Alabama Basketball: Jaden Shackelford announces return for 2021-22 season

As we approach the month of August, the 2021-22 season for Alabama Basketball is fast-approaching day-by-day.

After a run to the Sweet 16 during the 2020-21 season, the Crimson Tide will enter the 2021-22 campaign with a loaded roster. Yes, even after losing multiple players off of last year’s SEC Championship winning team, Nate Oats and Co. have re-loaded with multiple notable names including Davison, Bediako, Burnett, Gurley, and Holt.

Despite an already talented group, there was arguably some worry about a roster that appeared set a few weeks back when leading scorer Jaden Shackelford announced his intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Those potential worries however went away on Tuesday night with one simple announcement.

Jaden Shackelford announces return to Alabama Basketball for 2021-22 season.

Shackelford has announced his return to Tuscaloosa for the 2021-22 season with a tweet on Tuesday night.

Shackelford, originally from Hesperia, CA, was a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2019 recruiting class, and has averaged a combined 14.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.7 APG during his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Those phenomenal two seasons also included a selection to the 2019-20 SEC All-Freshman Team, as well as Second-Team All-SEC during the 2020-21 season.

As mentioned previously, Shackelford led the Crimson Tide in scoring a year ago averaging 14 PPG on 47.4% shooting from two, as well as 34.2% from three. As we’ve seen numerous times over the last two seasons, Shackelford has posted multiple impressive performances where he has seemed to take-over the game at times with potentially more to come.

This is obviously a massive boost to this Crimson Tide team entering the 2021-22 season as they will add a potential First-Team All-SEC caliber player to an already Top 10-15 preseason team.

With the return of Shackelford, the Alabama Basketball roster for the 2021-22 season now appears set. With a Crimson Tide team once again loaded with depth and talent, the defending SEC Champions appear set to be one of the top teams in the conference once again.