Alabama Basketball: 2023 recruiting class updates
Alabama Basketball has seen some significant movement in its 2023 class over the past 48 hours.
It added its first transfer portal commitment of the cycle on Tuesday when Wichita State wing Jaykwon Walton pledged to the Crimson Tide. Walton is a 6’7’’ perimeter player with a penchant for scoring, and will help Alabama a lot.
However, there is speculation regarding whether or not he will be eligible to play in 2023-24. Walton may have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, given that he has already played at two Division I schools and a junior college. If he cannot suit up next fall, Alabama Basketball may need to seek more help on the wing.
On Wednesday evening, Bama lost one of the members of its 2023 high school recruiting class. 3-star guard RJ Johnson has requested a release from his National Letter of Intent, and it does not appear he will be a part of the Alabama backcourt next season. The Huntsville product was Nate Oats’ only guard commitment in the cycle.
With Johnson’s presumed departure from the class, Alabama Basketball will bring in three freshmen in 2023. 4-star wings Sam Walters and Kris Parker, along with 4-star forward Mouhamed Dioubate, figure to bolster the Tide frontcourt.
Alabama will also add guard/wing Davin Cosby to its lineup. Cosby was originally a member of the 2023 class, but reclassified to 2022 and enrolled early at Alabama. He came to campus in January and had the luxury of practicing and traveling with one of the best teams in school history.
While no more changes are expected in the high school class of 2023, Alabama Basketball will likely continue to shop the NCAA transfer portal to fill roster gaps. It still awaits NBA Draft decisions from players such as Jahvon Quinerly and Noah Clowney. Additionally, in the modern climate of college sports, teams must always be wary of unexpected transfer exits.
NBA Draft decisions on the horizon. dark. Next
With the success Bama had in 2022-23 and the extent to which Nate Oats uses his bench, it’s tough to imagine many more players would be unhappy with their situations in Tuscaloosa.