What is Alabama Basketball getting in transfer guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr?
Alabama Basketball improved its roster a great deal this weekend. After landing transfer guard Aaron Estrada out of Hofstra on Saturday, Coach Nate Oats gained a commitment from another transfer guard on Sunday.
This time, he landed Cal State Fullerton’s Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who has a lot of similarities to Estrada. Wrightsell Jr. is a 6’3” combo guard that can score and facilitate; precisely the type of player that has thrived in Oats’ uptempo system.
He played three seasons at Cal State Fullerton, enjoying a breakout junior year in 2022-23. He led the Titans with 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this past season.
While Wrightsell Jr. could stand to improve his efficiency from the field (39.9 percent in his career), he will likely get higher quality shots surrounded by equally talented players at Alabama. In addition, those numbers are trending up, as he shot a career-high 42.4 percent from the field in 2022-23, despite taking twice as many shots as he had in any prior season.
One of Wrightsell Jr.’s most promising figures is the 38.3 percent he shot from the three-point line on high volume last season. If he and Estrada can be knockdown shooters from the perimeter, it will open up Oats’ offensive system.
With two talented transfer guards in the boat, does this impact any of the NBA Draft decisions for Alabama Basketball? Guards Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly, who are both All-SEC caliber players, are currently testing the waters. I believe the transfer additions are simply insurance, as Bama needed guard depth regardless.
I am sure both Sears and Quinerly would be welcomed back, and my guess at the moment is that they would make up the starting backcourt if they were to return.
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Estrada and Wrightsell Jr. will have their opportunities to beat out the incumbents in that case, but at the very least the new additions will provide invaluable quality backcourt depth.