The Transfer Portal is wide open in college basketball, but it's still early in the process. Alabama fans need to remember that this process takes time. Patience is key right now, as difficult as that is.
Nate Oats is juggling a lot of roster uncertainty still. So far, Aiden Sherrell, Taylor Bol Bowen, and Jalil Bethea have entered the portal from Alabama. Others could still be on the way with the window to do so open until April 21st.
Along with those three, Latrell Wrightsell, Noah Williamson, and Houston Mallette are all out of eligibility. Labaron Philon has already declared for the NBA Draft, while Oats and the Crimson Tide continued to wait for a decision on that front by star freshman Amari Allen.
Then, of course, there's the continued uncertainty surrounding Aden Holloway's future. Roster building in this era of college basketball is always fluid; that's never been truer than this offseason for Oats.
While it remains early in the process, some targets are already starting to emerge for the Crimson Tide:
Early Transfer Portal targets who could be difference-makers for Alabama next year
5. John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin
The biggest name Alabama has been linked to early in the Transfer Portal process is Wisconsin guard John Blackwell. He's one of the biggest names in the portal so far after a terrific junior season for the Badgers, where he averaged 19.1 points and shot 39% from three.
Alabama has a gap in the backcourt with the losses of Philon and Wrightsell. Philon averaged 22 points per game for the Crimson Tide this past season, so finding someone who can pack that kind of scoring punch would be a huge boost for Oats' offense next season.
Unfortunately, it feels unlikely that Alabama will be a major player in Blackwell's recruitment. Early reports are that he's going to command $4 or $5 million next season, and it's hard to see the Crimson Tide putting together an offer of that nature.
4. Alex Wilkins, G, Furman
In terms of finding a Philon replacement that is more affordable and realistic, Alabama could do a lot worse than Furman transfer guard Alex Wilkins, who went from being a no-name recruit to having an excellent freshman season for the Paladins.
Wilkins, a 6-foot-5 guard originally from Massachusetts, averaged 17.8 points per game this year. His three-point shooting number (32.8%) leaves a lot to be desired, but a deeper dive into his numbers reveals he's probably a much better shooter than that.
Wilkins had an absurd usage rate at Furman (34.4%), with a lot of his three-point attempts coming off the bounce. The encouraging numbers come from his 82.4% free-throw percentage, which is usually a good sign of someone's potential as a shooter, and the absurd 47.6% he shot from threes in the corner.
Wilkins isn't as big of a name as Blackwell, but he could ultimately be just as impactful and cost a lot less.
3. Cade Phillips, F/C, Tennessee
Alabama is pursuing bigger names, but Tennessee transfer - and Alabama legacy - Cade Phillips could ultimately be an underrated pickup for the Crimson Tide if things work out.
Phillips is the kind of player every good team needs: he's physical, big, and willing to do the dirty work. Oats has been resolute in his belief that Alabama has to get bigger across the roster, and while Phillips isn't normally the type of big that the Crimson Tide would target, Alabama's reported interest is a signal that Oats understands what has to be done for his team to take the next step.
Phillips is a great offensive rebounder and solid rim-protector. He won't replace Aiden Sherrell, but he has the potential to come in and be a quality backup big man that Alabama didn't have this year.
2. Jasper Johnson, CG, Kentucky
For much of his high school recruitment, it looked like Alabama was in the driver's seat for 5-star Jasper Johnson, but the Lexington native ultimately decided to stay home and play for Kentucky. After a disappointing freshman season, however, Johnson is back on the open market, and he could make his way to Tuscaloosa a year later.
While Jalil Bethea's disappointing season could have Tide fans wary of taking a flier on a former elite prospect who had a rough freshman season, Oats' success with the likes of Jahvon Quinerly and Aden Holloway should make them more comfortable.
Johnson has excellent positional size at 6-foot-5 and was billed as an elite shooter coming out of high school. He seems like a great fit for Alabama's system, and he could be an underrated pickup that pays major dividends next season and beyond.
1. Bangot Dak, F/C, Colorado
There's early mutual interest between Colorado junior big man Bangot Dak and Alabama. Dak is a versatile four/five hybrid, who stands at 7-feet tall but is a bit thin to play the five at just a listed 203 pounds. Think of a taller version of Taylor Bol Bowen.
Dak averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds this past season for the Buffs. He's a good defensive rebounder and shot blocker, but the concern with his fit is that he's not much of a shooter. Dak shot 25.9% from three as a junior, but he has improved as a free-throw shooter from 55% as a freshman to 73.6% last year.
Dak has intriguing physical tools and is an exceptional athlete. For the right price, he could be a useful player for Oats, especially if his shot develops and he can creep above 30% from three next year.