Latest news with #AlabamaBasketball
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nate Oats Delivers on Major Promise to Former NFL Coach Jon Gruden
Nate Oats Delivers on Major Promise to Former NFL Coach Jon Gruden originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Nate Oats has got a supporter in former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball coach met Gruden recently and gifted him a box that the latter unpacked on Friday on X. Advertisement "Ohhhh man... ROLL TIDE ROLL!" Gruden wrote with the post. "I met Nate Oats down in Fairhope, Alabama and he promised me a box from the Crimson Tide BASKETBALL team. Boy did he deliver! Thank you Coach and @AlabamaMBB for all this gear! I can't wait to watch you back in the Final Four soon." Oats has led Alabama to the Final Four each of the past two seasons. The Crimson Tide have made the Sweet 16 in four of the past five campaigns. Oats bumped into Gruden, the former Las Vegas Raiders coach, at a golf event. "Nate, coach, man, good to see you. How are you?" Gruden said to Oats at that event. "I'm a big fan of yours. Best-looking. My wife thinks you're the best-looking coach in sports." Advertisement Gruden pointed out to Oats that he hadn't received clothing merchandise from Alabama yet. As he began opening the package with a box-cutter, Gruden showered praise on the Crimson Tide. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Prather-Imagn Images "I mean, they won the SEC title in 2021, 2023," Gruden said as he fished out his gear. "This is Alabama basketball, the place where Robert "Big Bob," "Big Shot" Horry went. Remember that guy for the Houston Rockets? Just throwing daggers at people." Gruden pulled out three t-shirts, three hats, two long-sleeved shirts, a pullover, a hoodie, a pair of shorts, a beanie, and a collared shirt. Gruden also pulled a note out of the box. Advertisement "'Coach Gruden, it was great meeting you at the Senior Bowl function," Gruden read. "Here's some Alabama gear for you. Make sure you rep the Tide down there in Tampa, and I look forward to catching up with you.' From Nate Oats. "Nate Oats, you're the best-dressed coach. You're one of the coolest coaches, and not only that. Technically, you are one hell of a coach. Roll Tide, baby!" Related: Nate Oats Responds To Nick Saban's Perceived Jab This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who's No. 1? New Bama Hoops Jersey Numbers Revealed
Who's No. 1? New Bama Hoops Jersey Numbers Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Alabama Crimson Tide have a new No. 1. And if you're at all familiar with the championship-or-bust mindset in Tuscaloosa, you know the locals concur with the iconoclastic southeastern philosopher Ricky Bobby: If you're not first, you're last. Advertisement This has perhaps never been more true for Tide men's basketball after reaching their first-ever Final Four in 2024 and their third-ever Elite Eight this year. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 campaign, taking over the jersey that the NBA-bound Mark Sears wore to First Team All-American heights last season for Nate Oats' squad is both an esteemed honor and a uniquely weighty burden. Fortunately, a transfer wing with major upside took his talents to Tuscaloosa. On Friday, Alabama basketball revealed its jersey numbers for the upcoming campaign courtesy of NIL collective Yea Alabama -- and former Miami Hurricane and McDonald's All-American Jalil Bethea is Bama's new No. 1. Jan 29, 2025; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea (3) reacts after scoring against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images 2025-26 Alabama Basketball Jersey Numbers 0: Labaron Philon 1: Jalil Bethea 2: Aden Holloway 3: Latrell Wrightsell 4: Davion Hannah 5: Amari Allen 6: London Jemison 7: Taylor Bol Bowen 10: Keitenn Bristow 11: Preston Murphy Jr. 15: Noah Williamson 22: Aiden Sherrell 95: Houston Mallette Advertisement Bethea, a native of Philadelphia, was a consensus five-star recruit in the class of 2024. Widely considered a can't-miss shooting guard prospect, he ultimately chose Miami over big-time programs like Kansas, Villanova, and -- of course -- Alabama. After appearing in 31 games as a freshman, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged a modest 7.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 19 minutes per contest. Consequently, he will need to put in work to win over hearts and minds in Tide country. Oats granting him the vaunted Sears' jersey number, however, is a pretty spectacular vote of confidence. Alabama compiled a 28-9 record in 2024-25, peaking at No. 1 in the AP Poll before ultimately earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their season ended in the Elite Eight with an 85-65 drubbing at the hands of the Duke Blue Devils. Advertisement With today's reveal, however, hope is one meaningful step closer to springing eternal in Tuscaloosa. Be warned, SEC rivals: Look out for No. 1. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Lands Commitment From 6-Foot-10 Center
Alabama Lands Commitment From 6-Foot-10 Center originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Head coach Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball program from the top rope on Friday night. According to Travis Branham of 247Sports, four-star center Collins Onyejiaka has committed to Alabama. Alabama head coach Nate Oats.© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images A fringe top 100 recruit in the class of 2026, Onyejiaka's commitment comes with a reclassification. Instead, he will join the Crimson Tide in 2025, fresh off an Elite 8 showing. Advertisement This offseason, Alabama took to the transfer portal in hopes of replacing center Clifford Omoruyi. Oats and Company came away with Patriot League Player of the Year, Noah Williamson. The seven-foot center scored 17.6 points per game for the Bucknell Bison. The addition of Onyejiaka will give Alabama options outside Williamson. Alongside Onyejiaka and Williamson, six-foot-eleven sophomore Aiden Sherrell will likely also be in the mix after scoring just 3.4 points per game as a first-year player in 2024. Nevertheless, Alabama fans should temper expectations for Onyejiaka as a true freshman. Adam Finkelstein, the director of scouting for 247Sports, says, "He misses a surprising amount of dunks for someone so physically dominant, isn't much of a scoring threat on the perimeter, and can lack solutions when not able to overpower the opposition." Advertisement However, he does earn high praise as a post-defender and rim protector. He could find himself in the mix as a defensive anchor, especially with the war chest of offensive talent at the disposal of Oats. Alabama returns Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Labaron Philon, and Houston Mallette next season. Wrightsell Jr. is the most notable after scoring 11.5 points per game last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Related: Alabama Commit Continues Strong Elite 11 Performance on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five-star prospect Caleb Holt in Tuscaloosa for unofficial visit with Alabama basketball
Alabama basketball's roster for the upcoming season is ironclad, and the Crimson Tide is already making moves to bolster its class of 2026 recruits, gearing up for the March Madness runs to come. Five-star Caleb Holt is taking an unofficial visit to Alabama on Tuesday, June 10, according to On3's Joe Tipton. Advertisement On Monday, it was announced that the 6-foot-5 rising senior, originally from Huntsville, would be transferring from Grayson High in Georgia to Prolific Prep. The basketball academy, which recently relocated from California to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has produced returning UA players Aiden Sherrell and Aden Holloway, as well as former Crimson Tide freshman Derrion Reid, who transferred to Oklahoma in April. MORE FROM 2026 CLASS: Who is Alabama basketball 2026 prospect drawing Herb Jones comparisons? Meet Gage Mayfield MEET THE ROOKIES: Alabama basketball getting 'team leader' type in incoming freshman Davion Hannah Alabama basketball hosting 5-star 2026 prospect Caleb Holt for official visit It's not Holt's first time in Tuscaloosa, having visited campus on "several occasions," per Tipton. Advertisement Before spending his junior season at Grayson, Holt played his freshman and sophomore years at Buckhorn High in New Market. Grayson Rams guard Caleb Holt (3) makes an acrobatic lay up attempt while being guarded by Columbus Explorers guard Cayden Boozer (2) during the first quarter of a City of Palms Classic quarterfinal game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. The On3 Industry Rankings list Holt as the fifth overall recruit in the 2026 cycle and the No. 2 shooting guard prospect in the country. At the 2025 adidas Eurocamp in Italy, Holt earned MVP honors after leading his team to a championship victory while averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.7 assists per game. Holt's lengthy list of offers also includes Auburn, Kentucky, UConn, North Carolina, Kansas, Louisville, Ole Miss, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Houston, Tennessee and others. Advertisement Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Five-star prospect in Tuscaloosa to visit with Alabama basketball
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Preston Murphy had one more surprise in store for Alabama basketball's 2025-26 roster
Family ties wrapped up Alabama basketball's roster for the 2025-26 season. UA athletics updated the Crimson Tide's team website with incoming freshmen, transfers and new assistant coach Chris Fleming, hired in place of Ryan Pannone after his move to Arkansas State. Advertisement Alabama still had a spot remaining after Labaron Philon's shocking return, but with staff backing out on transfer prospect Desmond Claude (USC), it seemed like the Mobile point guard's comeback completed the roster. Instead, assistant Preston Murphy had a surprise for fans on Tuesday: His son. Preston Murphy's son completes Alabama basketball roster for 2025-26 season Preston Murphy Jr. is a 6-foot-1 junior guard and will be a walk-on with the Crimson Tide. Murphy Jr. spent two seasons at New Orleans before he transferred to Northern Oklahoma College last year. He played 28 games, averaging 14.4 points while shooting 42% from the field with 4.1 assists and 3.4 boards. Murphy Jr. had double-doubles in 21 appearances. Advertisement During high school at St. Andrew's in Barrington, R.I., Murphy Jr. was labeled as a three-star recruit and was ranked 38th at his position by 247Sports among point guards in the 2022 recruiting class. The addition of Murphy Jr. makes 13 total players available for Alabama basketball this fall. Alabama basketball newcomers for 2025-26 season Jalil Bethea, G, sophomore Davion Hannah, G, freshman Amari Allen, F, freshman London Jemison, F, freshman Taylor Bol Bowen, F, junior Keitenn Bristow, F, sophomore Noah Williamson, C, senior Preston Murphy Jr., G, junior Who is returning for Crimson Tide after Elite Eight run? Labaron Philon, G, sophomore Aden Holloway, G, junior Latrell Wrightsell Jr., G, graduate Aiden Sherrell, C, sophomore Houston Mallette, G, graduate Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Preston Murphy's son to join Alabama basketball for 2025-26 season
