Nate Oats knows he's got to avoid striking out in the Transfer Portal for a second year in a row. Alabama got little out of its four additions from the last portal cycle: Taylor Bol Bowen, Jalil Bethea, Noah Williamson, and Keitenn Bristow.
Bol Bowen was a solid player, but is back in the portal after a single season in Tuscaloosa. Bethea and Williamson struggled to crack the rotation, and Bristow spent the majority of the season on the bench with an injury.
If Alabama wants to truly compete for the program's first National Championship in basketball, something that is a prerequisite to keeping Oats long-term, it has no choice but to open up the checkbook and land some of the top portal players in the country.
Alabama will have to replace an All-American guard and potential lottery pick in Labaron Philon, and with Aden Holloway's future in doubt, the Tide could be missing a significant offensive punch that they can't rely on true freshmen to fill.
3 Transfer Portal targets that could turn Alabama into a National Championshp contender
3. Matt Able, SG, NC State
Oats has an obvious goal of getting bigger everywhere on the roster. The frontcourt is an obvious need, but getting bigger in the backcourt should be a priority, too. He could do that by circling back on a former 5-star recruit he couldn't quite reel in the boat a year ago.
5-star guard Matt Able originally committed to Miami, but reopened his recruitment amid a coaching change and ultimately ended up with Will Wade at NC State. He's back on the market after a productive freshman season in Raleigh.
The 6-foot-6 soon-to-be sophomore averaged over 9 points per game and shot 37% from three during ACC play for the Wolfpack. He would be a great fit for Oats' system and allow the Crimson Tide to get bigger in the backcourt.
2. Isaiah Johnson, PG, Colorado
Isaiah Johnson was a revelation as a freshman at Colorado. He was just a 3-star recruit, but averaged 16.9 points per game on 48/38/82 shooting splits. He's gone from an unheralded high school recruit to one of the most sought-after players in the Transfer Portal.
Oats faces a conundrum when building Alabama's 2026-27 roster. Aden Holloway's future is up in the air, and there will be no quick resolution there. Oats should plan for not having him, and if he's able to return to the court, then that's just a bonus.
Johnson would be a perfect replacement, and with three years of eligibility remaining, could be the future of the backcourt in Tuscaloosa.
1. Magoon Gwath, C, San Diego State
Additions in the frontcourt were always going to be a priority this offseason for the Crimson Tide. It's enhanced now after Aiden Sherrell announced his intention to enter the Transfer Portal.
Finding an impactful center is now the biggest priority for Oats.
It won't be cheap, however.
The big man market has exploded, and that's what led Sherrell to the portal to begin with. If Alabama can't convince Sherrell to re-sign and remain in Tuscaloosa, perhaps the best possible replacement would be San Diego State's Magoon Gwath.
Gwath was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman a year ago, and has shot over 40% from three in his two college seasons as a 7-footer.
He'd be a perfect stretch-five for Alabama's system.