Latest news with #NoahWilliamson
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama leads SEC basketball teams in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings for 2025-26
Alabama leads SEC basketball teams in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings for 2025-26 Will 2026 finally be the year Alabama basketball cuts down the nets and has its true "One Shining Moment" under head coach Nate Oats? The Crimson Tide should certainly have the talent to compete and make another deep NCAA Tournament run in search of their first men's basketball championship in program history. While Alabama loses major contributors and senior leadership with top-scoring guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson having graduated (ditto for Chris Youngblood and Clifford Omoruyi), Oats has added several marquee names through the transfer portal already this offseason. Those names include 7-foot center Noah Williamson from Bucknell, the Patriot League Player of the Year (17.6 PPG, 7.6 REB), starting forward Taylor Bol Bowen from Florida State, and Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea, a former 5-star recruit and Top 10 national player in the 2024 recruiting class. Several key players from Alabama's 2024-25 roster -- led by Aden Holloway and followed by Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette and forward Aiden Sherrell -- have already announced their returns. Still up in the air are Labaron Philon, who has been a projected first-round NBA Draft pick this season, and forwards Jarin Stevenson and Derrion Reid. On Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports' college basketball panel of experts Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus unveiled their way-too-early rankings for the 2025-26 season. The group ranked Alabama at No. 6 on their early Top 25 list, one spot below No. 5 BYU, who the Tide vanquished 113-88 in the Sweet 16, and one spot ahead of No. 7 Texas Tech. The Crimson Tide are the highest-ranked SEC team in USA TODAY Sports' initial look at the 2025-26 season. Myerberg wrote of Alabama: "Losing catalyst Mark Sears puts pressure on the backcourt to replicate his scoring production and leadership. Aden Holloway should take up much of that slack along with Miami (Fla.) transfer Jalil Bethea. A bonus would be the return of guard Lebaron Philon and make the Crimson Tide one of the SEC favorites. Inside additions Noah Williamson (Bucknell) and Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) should take on big roles." Alabama edged the Florida Gators in USA TODAY Sports' rankings. Florida cut down the nets in San Antonio Monday night with a 65-63 come-from-behind victory over the Houston Cougars to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Florida was No. 8 in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings. The next closest SEC team behind coach Todd Golden's Gators were John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 12. The Kentucky Wildcats were ranked No. 16, with the Tennessee Volunteers at No. 18, and the Auburn Tigers at No. 24, giving the SEC five teams on USA TODAY Sports' list. Keep up with Alabama's busy offseason by visiting Roll Tide Wire's 2025-26 roster and transfer portal tracker. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC basketball center target in transfer portal target chooses SEC rival
UNC basketball center target in transfer portal target chooses SEC rival Why does UNC keep swinging and missing on transfer portal centers? BREAKING: Alabama has landed the commitment of 7-footer Noah Williamson, a transfer center from Bucknell, sources told @On3sports. The Patriot League Player of the Year averaged 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season. — Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 1, 2025 The college basketball transfer portal isn't even two weeks old, but we're already starting to see several players commit to their future destinations. Ellliot Cadeau, who ran point for the North Carolina Tar Heels over the past two season, committed to Michigan a week after entering the transfer portal. Donovan Dent, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year and a 20-point scorer, chose UCLA after previously talking to UNC. One of North Carolina's greatest portal needs is a big man, who'll be playing alongside incoming 5-star power forward Caleb Wilson in the frontcourt. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, it's now out of the running for 7-foot center Noah Williamson. After previous reports noted the Tar Heels looking at Williamson, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year chose Alabama. Sound familiar? Cliff Omoruyi, a 6'11" center who played his first four years of college basketball at Rutgers, chose Alabama three days after visiting UNC during the 2024 offseason. Williamson, who averaged a career-high 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game with the Bucknell Bison during the 2024-2025 college basketball season, can do pretty much anything on the court. He's a 7-footer who can knock down threes (31.8% last year), but can also punish you in the pain with his towering frame. It doesn't matter what kind of big man North Carolina gets in the transfer portal, it just matters that North Carolina secures a commitment. The Tar Heels struck out on all the top-end talent during 2024, but enjoyed a late-season breakout from Ven-Allen Lubin, en route to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama basketball lands transfer portal commitment from mid-major Player of the Year
Alabama basketball lands transfer portal commitment from mid-major Player of the Year BREAKING: Alabama has landed the commitment of 7-footer Noah Williamson, a transfer center from Bucknell, sources told @On3sports. The Patriot League Player of the Year averaged 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season. — Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 1, 2025 On Monday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide landed a commitment from what is likely to be a prominent member of the 2025-26 team in Noah Williamson, a transfer center who announced that he was heading to Tuscaloosa for his senior season. Alabama's first transfer portal addition so far this offseason, Williamson comes to Tuscaloosa following three years at Bucknell in which he has started 63-of-81 games. Over that span, Williamson, a native of Latvia who is listed at 7-foot and 250 pounds, averaged a combined 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on 52.4% from the field, 32.3% from three, and 63% at the free throw line. This past season, Williamson started all 32 games for a Bucknell team that went 18-15 as the Patriot League regular season champions, and had a career-year in which he averaged 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game on 53.8% shooting from the field. Williamson also shot a combined 31.8% from three, as well as 61.7% at the free throw line, and received multiple honors that included the 2024-25 Patriot League Player of the Year, Patriot League All-Defense, and First Team All-Patriot League. Looking ahead, Williamson is likely to play a prominent role in Alabama's frontcourt next season that is tasked with replacing a pair of starters in Grant Nelson and Clifford Omoruyi. Williamson is also a candidate to start at center for the Crimson Tide next season.
Associated Press
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bucknell Bison and Navy Midshipmen play in Patriot League Tournament
Navy Midshipmen (14-18, 11-8 Patriot League) at Bucknell Bison (18-14, 14-5 Patriot League) Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; Sunday, 12 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Bucknell plays in the Patriot League Tournament against Navy. The Bison's record in Patriot League play is 14-5, and their record is 4-9 in non-conference games. Bucknell is 5-8 against opponents over .500. The Midshipmen's record in Patriot League action is 11-8. Navy is 2-1 in games decided by 3 points or fewer. Bucknell's average of 8.1 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.3 more made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Navy allows. Navy has shot at a 42.6% clip from the field this season, 0.7 percentage points fewer than the 43.3% shooting opponents of Bucknell have averaged. TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Bascoe averages 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Bison, scoring 15.8 points while shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc. Noah Williamson is shooting 65.1% and averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games. Austin Benigni is scoring 18.6 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Midshipmen. Jordan Pennick is averaging 15.1 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Bison: 9-1, averaging 80.8 points, 32.3 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 53.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.2 points per game. Midshipmen: 6-4, averaging 70.8 points, 30.6 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.9 points. ___
Washington Post
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Bucknell holds off Loyola Maryland 76-72 in OT in Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Noah Williamson totaled 21 points and 10 rebounds to help Bucknell fend off Loyola Maryland 76-72 in overtime on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament. Josh Bascoe finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Bison (18-14), who have won six in a row. Elvin Edmonds IV scored 12. He made two free throws with 1:54 left in the extra period to give the Bison the lead for good.
