Alabama Basketball: Tide trending up with transfer targets

With the addition of two new assistants, Alabama Basketball is close to a full staff. Over the weekend, Nate Oats had both Ryan Pannone and Austin Claunch in Tuscaloosa to help with recruiting. Pannone’s previous employer, the New Orleans Pelicans missed out on the NBA Playoffs, allowing Pannone a quick transition to Nate Oats’ staff. After leaving a head coaching job at Nicholls State, Austin Claunch was also quickly available to help with recruiting.

Once Nate Oats lands a top recruiter, it is expected Pannone, like Charlie Henry before him, will not be heavily burdened by recruiting. There is apparently mutual interest between Oats and former Creighton assistant, Preston Murphy. Murphy is known as a top recruiter, but he is not expected to be available for a few weeks.

Oats and his new staff hosted Wofford transfer, BJ Mack and Hofstra transfer, Aaron Estrada. Multiple reports were the 6’8″, 265lb. Mack was quite impressed with how he would be used in the Nate Oats system. Alabama Basketball needs another big body, plus in his three Wofford seasons, Mack made threes at almost 37%.

As the CAA Player of the Year, Estrada scored over 20 ppg last season. He made twos at 54.7% and threes at 36.8%. While he was in Tuscaloosa, it was announced he had canceled a visit to FSU. Estrada will announce his final choice on Apr. 29 and it appears to be either the Crimson Tide or Kansas State.

Scheduled to be in Tuscaloosa soon are North Texas transfer and CUSA POY, Tylor Perry and Cal-State Fullerton guard, Latrell Wrightsell. Perry has a two-season average with the Mean Green of 41.8% three-point shooting.

Other Alabama Basketball Transfer Possibilities

As reported by multiple sources, Alabama has been in communication with Nate Calmese (Lamar, shooting guard), RaeQuan Battle (6’5″, Montana State, shooting guard), Barry Dunning (Arkansas, 6’6″ wing), Carlos Stewart (Santa Clara, guard) and Chaney Johnson (UAH, 6’7″, forward).

Stewart is from Baton Rouge and some recruiting experts expect LSU to land him. Calmese is a viable option but it appears Oats considers Perry as the top ‘small’ guard choice. Alabama has much competition in landing Battle, including UCLA, Texas, Memphis, Oregon and Oklahoma.

Barry Dunning might lean toward the Crimson Tide since he is a former Alabama Mr. Basketball from 2022. Johnson, possibly moving up from UAH, would be a jump in class, but along with Alabama, Auburn, Texas Tech and Arkansas are reported to be interested. Of course, Eric Musselman throws offers out like candy on Halloween.

One more possible option is from the 2023 class. Alabama offered Silas Demary Jr., who signed with USC. The former 4-Star has asked to be released from his NLI to reopen his recruitment.

Though not every Alabama basketball agrees, the biggest get for Nate Oats would be another season in Tuscaloosa for Jahvon Quinerly.