Alabama Basketball: Two strong additions would finish ’23-24 roster

Nate Oats is working hard on the 2024 Alabama Basketball class. Per the norm for Oats, he and the Crimson Tide are chasing elite prospects. At the same time, Alabama needs to finish the 2023-24 roster.

After the abrupt purge of Jaykwon Walton following his recent arrest, it is presumed the Crimson Tide has two open roster slots. That presumption carries the expectation that Charles Bediako, Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly will return. Bediako and Sears will receive valuable NBA feedback, and both are almost sure to conclude another season of college ball is best for their careers. Quinerly is in a different situation, but Alabama basketball insiders believe Quinerly is strongly considering a return. If Nate Oats believed Quinerly would decide to leave, it is unlikely the recent scheduled visit by transfer Tylor Perry would not have been canceled.

As I wrote a couple of days ago, Nate Oats needs to add defense and rebounding help to the roster. Wofford transfer, BJ Mack has been considered an option, but Mack is expected to join South Carolina.

Alabama Basketball has good options

No Mack is no problem for Nate Oats, but two ‘ifs’ are involved. 2024 class big man, Aiden Sherrell has long been a top target for the Crimson Tide. He has visited Tuscaloosa and some college basketball pundits believe the 6’11” power forward will choose either Alabama or Michigan State. Sherrell plays in Detroit, a short distance from the Spartans campus. Alabama has one advantage that should Sherrell reclassify to the 2023 class, he could step into Noah Clowney’s minutes from last season.

Sherrell has big man skills, but he could play any of three spots for the Crimson Tide. He has the body to play at the ‘4’ or the ‘5’, but has the ball skills and shooting ability to work away from the basket. He appears to be a perfect fit for the Nate Oats system of play.

There is another good option in the Transfer Portal. It is USC freshman, Tre White. White made the Pac-12 All-Freshman team for the Trojans. His offensive stats were good, but not great. He was superb finishing around the rim but shot only 26.5% outside the arc. Though he played in 33 games and started most of them, he attempted just 49 three-point shots. The 6’7″ wing is an outstanding defender. His scoring average was just over 9pts per game, but in early February, against Washington, White scored 22 points.

The list of suitors for White is long, but Alabama basketball insiders believe Nate Oats has put the Crimson Tide in a favorable position to land the former Trojan.