Alabama basketball's Labaron Philon leaves fans 'most caught off guard' since exit of Nick Saban
Alabama basketball fans were left stunned when the news dropped that Labaron Philon would be returning to Tuscaloosa for a second season.
With only 28 minutes to the withdrawal deadline for the 2025 NBA Draft, UA's NIL collective Yea Alabama announced that the Mobile native removed his name to come back to college, adding to a wild day for what X users call "IBOB Twitter" hours after Tahaad Pettiford said he will play his sophomore season at Auburn. Exactly a month after he declared for the draft, Philon told media on May 14 that the "door was closed" on a comeback at UA.
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Those who tune in for Crimson Tide hoops had accepted the fact that Philon was a one-and-done wonder. He wouldn't grace the court in Coleman Coliseum again, or lift a trophy for a historic national championship. As of late Wednesday night, that's fiction.
HOW WE GOT HERE: How did Alabama basketball react to Labaron Philon's decision not to return, move forward in NBA Draft?
REQUIRED READING: Which 2025-26 Alabama basketball player will inherit No.1 from Mark Sears?
Philon said it best in an Instagram post inspired by his idol, Michael Jordan: "I'm back."
Dec 14, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) celebrates in the closing moments of the game with Creighton at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Creighton 83-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
Here were some of the top reactions from social media.
Alabama basketball fans left 'shocked' by return of Labaron Philon
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Best reactions to Alabama basketball Labaron Philon's shocking NBA Draft exit
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