Good news: Alabama basketball can check off an important title-winning box that every champion has shared since Villanova cut down the nets in 2018.
Bad news: So can 24 other teams next season.
According to CBS Sports' David Cobb, every title-winning team from 2019 and on has had at least one of the following three items:
- Enrolled a top-20 high school recruiting class
- Enrolled a top-20 transfer class
- Returned their leading scorer
Nate Oats checked that box for the Crimson Tide by bringing in On3's No. 4-ranked recruiting class in the 2026 cycle. That's before you even include the expected reclassification of 5-star guard Anderson Diaz, who could shoot that ranking up even higher.
Because of that, Alabama is one of 25 teams capable of winning the national title next season. Not exactly a short list, but checking off that one box at least removes any historical stumbling block.
Nate Oats has built a national championship caliber team at Alabama
When you get down to the brass tacks, Oats has really done an excellent job of blending the roster between returners, transfers, and high-level recruits.
Alabama returns two of its three leading scorers from last season in Aden Holloway and Amari Allen, while also bringing back some talented youngsters in London Jemison, Keitenn Bristow, and Collins Onyejiaka.
Oats then went to work in the Transfer Portal to rebuild the Tide's frontcourt, adding a trio of transfers with Brandon Garrison (Kentucky), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State), and Drew Fielder (Boise State). Alabama also landed NC State sharpshooter Cole Cloer, who could have a bigger impact than some may have initially figured.
And then in the high school class, Oats has landed two composite 5-stars in Jaxon Richardson and Qayden Samuels, along with a 4-star in Tarris Bouie. They could add another composite 5-star in Diaz, though he would probably drop down to a 4-star in a reclass situation.
For Oats, this roster feels as deep and versatile as he's ever built in Tuscaloosa. It's certainly the biggest across the board. Holloway - and perhaps Diaz - projects as the only rotational piece under 6-foot-6. Alabama won't be bullied by bigger teams next season as had often been the case the last few years.
They'll be able to match up against anyone, without sacrificing the free-flowing offensive style that has been a staple under Oats.
Whether this team is good enough to actually bring home the program's first national title remains to be seen, but it's cleared an important preseason benchmark in the very least.
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