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USA Today
03-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama rises significantly in early 2025-26 rankings post-NBA draft withdrawal deadline
Alabama rises significantly in early 2025-26 rankings post-NBA draft withdrawal deadline It is no secret that the Alabama Crimson Tide were among the biggest winners from the 2025 NBA draft withdrawal deadline. As to why, Alabama - who were already considered among college basketball's best looking ahead to the 2025-26 season - saw a shocking turns of events as guard Labaron Philon announced right before the deadline that he was withdrawing from the NBA draft to return to the Crimson Tide. Weeks prior, Philon had previously announced that he would be remaining in the 2025 NBA draft, and would not return to Alabama. With the return of Philon however, the re-addition of the talented guard is certainly a boost to Alabama's 2025-26 roster outlook, and as a result, the Crimson Tide are now beginning to skyrocket up early Top 25 rankings, the latest of which came via ESPN's Jeff Borzello. In his updated Top 25 post-deadline, Borzello jumped Alabama seven spots up to No. 17, making the Crimson Tide one of the biggest risers behind only Florida. Borzello also said of the Crimson Tide: "Alabama was one of the big winners of the withdrawal deadline, with Labaron Philon making a late decision to remove his name from the draft and return to Tuscaloosa. The talented guard told reporters at the combine that he had closed the door on going back to college. But Nate Oats was on the hunt for a playmaker on the perimeter and now has Philon back in the fold." "Philon is part of a talented perimeter group that includes returnees Aden Holloway and a healthy Latrell Wrightsell Jr., while former five-star recruit Jalil Bethea will look to bounce back after transferring from Miami." "The frontcourt will likely have to rely on portal additions, namely Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson, who was named 2024-25 Patriot League Player of the Year, and Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen, a skilled forward and former highly touted recruit. Aiden Sherrell needs to take a step forward, too." In addition to ESPN, USA TODAY Sports also recently labeled Alabama among the biggest withdrawal deadline winners due to the return of Philon. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Dealt Major Transfer Portal News After NCAA Tournament Loss
Nate Oats has turned to the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball program into an SEC powerhouse over the past several years. Alabama, led by Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the East region, looking to make a run at the national championship. Advertisement While the Crimson Tide were successful in the early rounds, defeating Robert Morris, Saint Mary's and BYU, they ultimately lost to the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. Following the brutal loss for Oats and company, they picked up a massive commitment from 7-foot center Noah Williamson, per Joe Tipton. Williamson will be transferring to Alabama after three seasons at Bucknell. This past season, Williamson averaged 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. The Patriot League Player of the Year capped off his career at Bucknell averaging 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats and guard Mark Sears© Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Crimson Tide picked up a major commitment from one of the most highly coveted transfers in college basketball as they head into the post-Mark Sears era. Advertisement Sears and Nelson have been leading Alabama throughout the past few years, most notably during back-to-back runs in the NCAA Tournament, but Williamson will now have a major role in filling those shoes. Related: Arkansas' John Calipari Dealt Unfortunate Transfer Portal News Related: Ole Miss Makes Major Chris Beard Announcement Amid NCAA Tournament
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
05-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama basketball 2025-26 roster, transfer portal offseason tracker
Alabama basketball 2025-26 roster, transfer portal offseason tracker Coming off the program's second consecutive Elite Eight appearance, there is no denying that this offseason will be an important one for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Having made the NCAA Tournament each of last five seasons under head coach Nate Oats, the Crimson Tide will be only two seasons removed from the program's first-ever Final Four appearance, and will be tasked with replacing a few significant pieces from this past year's team. Some of those names were also prominent players on that Final Four team as well, and leave behind big holes on the roster that will need to be filled in order to make Alabama a contender once again next season. Even despite those question marks however, Alabama's roster is already set to be loaded once again next season, with the Crimson Tide also set to likely continuing adding to that group this offseason via the transfer portal. A post that will be updated throughout the offseason, here is a tracker of Alabama's action in the transfer portal, as well as the Crimson Tide's 2025-26 roster outlook overall. This post is current as of Friday, April 4. Alabama Basketball Transfer Portal Departures Mouhamed Dioubate, Forward Naas Cunningham, Forward At the moment, Alabama has had only two players enter the transfer portal in Dioubate and Cunningham, the former of which appeared in 37 games off the Crimson Tide's bench this past year to average 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds on 61.7% shooting from the field, as well as 46.2% (12-of-26) from three. Cunningham, a former Top 50 recruit, did not play during the 2024-25 season as a freshman due to a redshirt. Alabama Basketball Transfer Portal Additions Noah Williamson, Center - Transferred from Bucknell Taylor Bol Bowen, Forward - Transferred from Florida State Alabama has so far added a pair of frontcourt players through the transfer portal in Williamson and Bol Bowen, the former of which was the 2024-25 Patriot League Player of the Year. Bol Bowen had a breakout season at Florida State, and is also likely to play a key role for Alabama next year. Alabama Basketball Roster Departures Mark Sears, Guard - Graduation Grant Nelson, Forward - Graduation Chris Youngblood, Guard - Graduation Clifford Omoruyi, Center - Graduation Max Scharnowski, Forward - Graduation Mouhamed Dioubate, Forward - Transfer Portal Naas Cunningham, Forward - Transfer Portal Alabama is currently set to lose four of their five starters from this past season due to graduation in Sears, Nelson, Youngblood, and Omoruyi. The Crimson Tide have also lost a notable backup to the transfer portal in Dioubate. Alabama Basketball Roster Returning Players Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Guard - Graduate Student Labaron Philon, Guard - Sophomore Aden Holloway, Guard - Junior Jarin Stevenson, Forward - Junior Aiden Sherrell, Forward - Sophomore Derrion Reid, Forward - Sophomore Houston Mallette, Guard - Graduate Student A list of names that could potentially change in the coming days and weeks, Alabama's roster is set to return many prominent names next season such as Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr.. Also set to return are a few other prominent names such as Holloway and Reid, among others. Alabama Basketball Roster Additions Noah Williamson, Center - Transfer Portal Taylor Bol Bowen, Forward - Transfer Portal London Jemison, Forward - Freshman Davion Hannah, Guard - Freshman Amari Allen, Forward - Freshman Alabama is currently set to bring in five total players this offseason, which includes two from the transfer portal in Williamson and Bol Bowen from Bucknell and Florida State, respectively. The Crimson Tide also have three freshmen set to come to Tuscaloosa next season in Jemison, Hannah, and Allen. Alabama Basketball 2025-26 Projected Starting Lineup, Depth Chart PG: Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway SG: Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Houston Mallette, Davion Hannah Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Houston Mallette, Davion Hannah SF: Derrion Reid, London Jemison, Amari Allen Derrion Reid, London Jemison, Amari Allen PF: Taylor Bol Bowen, Jarin Stevenson Taylor Bol Bowen, Jarin Stevenson C: Noah Williamson, Aiden Sherrell As mentioned previously, Alabama is set to lose at-least four starters from the 2024-25 season, and that total could potentially rise to five depending on the NBA draft decision of Labaron Philon. As for the starting lineup, Philon will likely feature alongside newcomers in Williamson and Bol Bowen, with Wrightsell and Reid also projected starters should they return. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
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.
