Alabama won't give up easily on Aiden Sherrell, but for now, the former 5-star big man intends to enter the Transfer Portal.
With Taylor Bol Bowen also entering the portal, Alabama's frontcourt will look completely different next season, assuming Nate Oats can't work some magic and coax Sherrell back to Tuscaloosa.
The big man market in the Transfer Portal has completely exploded, and Sherrell will undoubtedly command a large NIL sum after a breakout sophomore season that saw him average 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots per game while shooting 34% from three.
So Alabama will be in the market for a replacement, and finding a quality five-man (or two) will be of the utmost importance this offseason.
A quick note before we look at some candidates: I don't consider Kansas' Flory Bidunga or Georgia's Somto Cyril to be realistic candidates. They would both be awesome additions, no doubt, but they'll be just as expensive, if not more, than Sherrell, and if Alabama were going to spend that kind of money on a center, they'd just as soon bring back Sherrell.
Nate Oats could find his Aiden Sherrell replacement with one of these 3 in the Transfer Portal
3. Drew Fielder, Boise State
Boise State's Drew Fielder wouldn't bring the same shot-blocking prowess as Sherrell, but he's an even better three-point shooter and would be a dangerous stretch-five in Oats's system.
Fielder shot 40.9% from three and averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 24 minutes per game for Boise State. He started his career at Georgetown, spending two seasons with the Hoyas before having his breakout season with the Broncos.
Alabama would likely want to pair Fielder with a shot-blocker at the 4/5 spot. Perhaps Collins Onyejiaka could develop into that this offseason, assuming his health allows him to get back on the court.
2. Chol Machot, Charleston
Charleston transfer Chol Machot would be the top player on this list in terms of replacing Sherrell's shot-blocking ability. He averaged 2.5 blocks per game in just under 20 minutes a night for an astounding block rate of 14.4, well above Sherrell's 8.5.
Machot wasn't a good shooter this year, but he showed a willingness to unleash from deep (6-of-22 on the year), and that's a skill that Oats would undoubtedly work to develop if he made his way over to Tuscaloosa.
The big concern with Machot, however, is that Alabama would be giving up some size. He's a 7-footer, but is listed at only 190 pounds, which could be problematic against the bigger and stronger teams on the Tide's schedule next season.
1. Magoon Gwath, San Diego State
If you want a guy who can defend the rim AND knock down threes at an even higher clip than Sherrell, look no further than San Diego State's Magoon Gwath, who announced on Monday night that he'd be entering the portal.
Gwath was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mountain West as a freshman in 2024-25. He slipped a little as a shot blocker this season, but he knocked down 43.5% of his attempts from three to more than make up for it.
In two college seasons, Gwath has hit 37-of-91 (40.6%) from three. His ability to defend the rim and hit outside shots would be a great fit for Alabama. He's one of the few who, if he can stay healthy, might be an actual upgrade over Sherrell.