Alabama Basketball lands transfer guard Aaron Estrada

Alabama Basketball got a huge transfer addition on Saturday in the form of former Hofstra guard Aaron Estrada. Estrada instantly gives Bama a playmaker in its backcourt as it awaits NBA Draft decisions from Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly.

After brief stops at Saint Peter’s and Oregon, Aaron Estrada took off in his two seasons at Hofstra. The 6’4” guard started all 63 games and scored over 1,200 points in his two years in New York en route to winning back-to-back CAA Player of the Year awards.

Last season, he averaged 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on efficient shooting splits, including just under 37 percent from the three-point line. He should provide high-upside scoring as a combo guard for the Crimson Tide.

This is a huge commitment for Alabama Basketball, which previously had zero true guards on the roster. Rising sophomore wing Rylan Griffen and redshirt freshman wing Davin Cosby are both solid at the two, but neither has shown the ability to run the point when necessary. Estrada gives the Tide a viable option at the one.

With the potential returns of Sears and Quinerly, Bama could have one of the nation’s most potent backcourts. However, Coach Nate Oats should continue to pursue transfer portal guards. That way, he would not be left shorthanded in the case that Sears or Quinerly opt to remain in the draft.

Alabama Basketball is still in the mix for Cal State Fullerton guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. In fact, the Crimson Tide is the heavy favorite to land Wrightsell Jr. following his campus visit to Tuscaloosa.

Landing these two guards back-to-back would speak to Oats’ relentless work in the portal. It would also make the decisions for Jahvon Quinerly and Mark Sears a lot more complicated, as they would have considerable competition for their starting backcourt roles.

Bama Hammer will continue to provide recruiting, transfer portal, and roster updates for Alabama Basketball throughout the 2023 offseason.