Nate Oats and Alabama basketball made a splash in the Transfer Portal on Monday night by landing a commitment from the Patriot League Player of the Year, Noah Williamson. Williamson was in Tuscaloosa on Monday for a visit, and the Crimson Tide landed his commitment before he could leave town.
BREAKING: Alabama has landed the commitment of 7-footer Noah Williamson, a transfer center from Bucknell, sources told @On3sports.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 1, 2025
The Patriot League Player of the Year averaged 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season. https://t.co/p9T90mGWWa pic.twitter.com/YpbvpRMiU7
Williamson spent the first three seasons of his career with Bucknell, culminating in the Patriot League Player of the Year award as a junior when he averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He shot 53.8% from the floor and connected on 31.8% of his three-point attempts.
With Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi exhausting their eligibility, Alabama had a need for a big in the portal even with Aiden Sherrell expected back in Tuscaloosa for his sophomore season. Williamson is a legit 7-footer and 250-pounds and will give Oats and company a lot of lineup versatility.
Williamson and Sherrell could play together and give Alabama a twin towers lineup that would be difficult for teams to score against on the interior. Both can shoot well enough to stretch the floor offensively and keep the lane from being packed in.
Auburn has had plenty of success this season with a similar approach, starting both Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell, two more traditional centers.
Williamson has a nice back-to-the-basket game and can give the Crimson Tide a legitimate option to score in the post when things aren't falling from the outside and guards are struggling to create offense.
What's next for Alabama in the Transfer Portal?
Alabama got its first commitment and saw its first defection in the portal on Monday. Prior to the Williamson news, Naas Cunningham entered the Transfer Portal after spending a redshirt season with the Crimson Tide.
Cunningham is not expected to be the last portal entry, and freshman guard Labaron Philon is widely expected to declare for the NBA Draft. Alabama will have several spots available to add some talent.
LSU forward Corey Chest was also in Tuscaloosa on Monday for a visit. Alabama is also expected to get visits this week from Miami (FL) guard Jalil Bethea, Florida State forward Taylor Bol Bowen, and complete a Zoom call with Monmouth wing Abdi Bashir.
One of Alabama's expected top targets, Adrian Wooley, committed to Louisville on Monday.
Oats and the Crimson Tide are wasting no time with Williamson's commitment and will continue to aggressively pursue some of the nation's top players.