Massive roster turnover is just the name of the game in today's college sports landscape. Alabama basketball has now seen its fourth player from last season's roster enter the Transfer Portal. Coupled with four players who exhausted their eligibility - and the still-to-come decision from Labaron Philon - and Alabama will once again have an almost completely new roster next season.
Late Saturday night, freshman Derrion Reid decided to enter the Transfer Portal after one season in Tuscaloosa. The former 5-star recruit had an injury-plagued freshman season at Alabama and played in just 24 of the Crimson Tide's 37 games.
NEW: Alabama SF Derrion Reid has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, @PeteNakos_ reports.https://t.co/mzMe9luCgH pic.twitter.com/k63rg9o9v9
— On3 (@On3sports) April 13, 2025
Reid averaged 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game. He shot 45% from the field and 26% from three-point range. Reid is a player who figures to make a significant jump from his freshman to sophomore seasons if he's able to stay healthy. He's a supremely talented player who Nate Oats would have preferred hanging onto.
Alabama now officially has two open roster spots following Reid's decision. He's the fourth Alabama player to enter the portal, joining Naas Cunningham, Mo Dioubate, and Jarin Stevenson. Cunningham and Stevenson remain in the portal while Dioubate quickly pledged his commitment to SEC rival Kentucky.
Where does Alabama turn next in the Transfer Portal?
Alabama has at least two open roster spots. That could be three depending on the decision made by Philon. He's widely expected to go through the NBA Draft process, which will put Oats and the Tide in a difficult position as they wait and see if he stays in the draft or returns to school.
Without Philon, Alabama will be short on lead guards. Oats would have to ask a lot of Aden Holloway, who seemed better suited on an off-ball role for the Crimson Tide, and hope to get minutes at the position from combo guards like Latrell Wrightsell and Miami transfer Jalil Bethea.
As of now, Alabama hasn't been linked to many other portal targets. Former Alabama wing Rylan Griffen, who spent this past season at Kansas, is back in the portal and is rumored to be interested in a Tuscaloosa reunion.
Alabama has also been in contact with Mississippi State transfer forward KeShawn Murphy. Oats has probably made contact with some others, and there's still a little under two weeks left in this portal window.
The difference now is that with Dioubate, Stevenson, and Reid all leaving, Alabama has some real playing time to offer, which will help its pursuit with some of the higher-valued targets.