Alabama Basketball: Nate Oats working to finish new Crimson Tide roster

Alabama basketball fans are anxious for Trendon Watford to roll with the Tide. Nate Oats appears to be building a roster that may not need Watford.

In the current NCAA Dead Period, Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats can maybe catch his breath. The next signing period for Division One NCAA basketball starts on Apr. 17. Nate Oats appears poised to make final roster moves sooner than later.

State of Alabama basketball phenom, Trendon Watford was scheduled to announce his college choice on Apr. 20. That announcement has been delayed until something occurs. Only the Watfords, and maybe a couple of coaches, know what the ‘something’ is.

There is various speculation Watford will be signing with Memphis or LSU and maybe even Alabama basketball. Now that LSU has surprisingly reinstated Will Wade, the Bengal Tigers think Wade can close Watford.

What happened at LSU? Wade lawyered up with one of the best – the same guy Sean Miller and Bruce Pearl called on for help. Wade is scheduled to testify this month in a trial stemming from the FBI, basketball corruption investigation. Some of the Corn Dogs say Wade will not testify because – wait for it – Wade is actually an FBI informant. They can’t explain how Wade became an informant.

It is very difficult to believe the Watfords will take a chance on Wade. It appears Trendon wants to sign with Memphis, in large part because of relationships built over years. The young man may still be hoping for a Duke offer as well.

Nate Oats has had little time to make up for the pre-Oats, era of Alabama basketball not being seriously considered by Trendon. We doubt Oats has given up and the delay by Trendon could end up working in the Tide’s favor.

Or Trendon will suddenly announce he is going to Memphis. There is another possible wrinkle to all this. Memphis continues to pursue other top recruits, at least one higher rated than Watford. If Trendon begins to feel less love from the Tigers, Nate Oats might get an opening.

Oats will not just sit around waiting on a high school player’s decision. Now that JUCO transfer, James Rojas has been released from his Buffalo commitment, Oats may go ahead and fill the roster. The 6’7″ JUCO All-American would be a strong roster addition.

Rojas appears ready to sign.  If he does, there is not a later spot for Watford, unless another current player exits. Tevin Mack has applied for an NBA Draft grade. The chance of NBA feedback strong enough to convince Mack to leave seems slim. Another current player might join Ingram, Giddens and Diante Wood in choosing to leave the program.

However it plays out with Trendon Watford, Nate Oats is quickly making the Alabama basketball roster better. Adding graduate transfer Beetle Bolden from West Virginia filled a need at guard. The incoming freshman class is solid, with or without Trendon Watford.