Roster building always comes with a tremendous challenge in this era of college basketball, but Nate Oats faces even more of a challenge than usual this offseason.
Along with navigating Transfer Portal additions and subtractions and the NBA Draft like normal, Oats will also build next season's roster with no assurances that star point guard Aden Holloway will be able to play next season at all.
Holloway is facing felony charges for marijuana possession stemming from an arrest on March 16th, just a few days before the Crimson Tide opened the NCAA Tournament. His future with the program is up in the air, though he intends to re-enroll at Alabama in the fall to play basketball. His future on the court will be decided in court.
Roster building is always fluid. In this era of college basketball, it's hard to bank on anyone returning year-to-year for certain. There always seems to be a surprising departure - see Mo Dioubate last year - so don't be surprised if it happens again.
What seems like a certainy, however, is that Oats will put together a talented roster capable of competing with the best of the best in college basketball.
To do so, he'll need to do a better job in the portal than he did a year ago.
Alabama basketball 2026-27 roster tracker
Who's Leaving Alabama
Out of Eligibility:
- G Latrell Wrightsell
- G/F Houston Mallette
- C Noah Williamson
NBA Draft:
Transfer Portal:
- F Taylor Bol Bowen
- C Aiden Sherrell
- G Jalil Bethea - committed to Pitt
Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette, and Noah Williamson are out of eligibility. Wrightsell was one of the best three-point shooters in college basketball during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa and will not be easily replaced. Mallette was also a strong shooter, but he will be missed more for his intangibles: his hustle, leadership, and blue-collar work-ethic will be difficult to replace.
Williamson was mostly a bust in last year's portal class, but he was a big body in the paint who flashed some down the stretch.
Labaron Philon declared for the NBA Draft, and Alabama is still waiting on a decision from freshman Amari Allen, who will decide between joining Philon in the draft or returning for his sophomore season.
Taylor Bol Bowen was the first to announce his portal decision, leaving the Crimson Tide after just one season. He transferred to Alabama a year ago from Florida State.
The biggest loss of the portal cycle will likely be sophomore center Aiden Sherrell, who blossomed in his second season in Tuscaloosa. With an exploding market for centers across college basketball, Sherrell's entry isn't a surprise, but is nonetheless devastating.
Jalil Bethea joined his portal classmate Bol Bowen by entering the portal after a disappointing season in Tuscaloosa. The former 5-star recruit will move on to his third school in three years.
Who's staying at Alabama:
Who's joining Alabama:
Transfer Portal:
Kentucky reserve big Brandon Garrison is the first addition in the Transfer Portal for Oats this cycle, and while he won't replace Sherrell, he might signal a fundamental change in defensive philosophy with his ability to switch pick-and-rolls instead of sitting in drop coverage.
Recruiting:
(All rankings via 247 Composite)
- Qayden Samuels, G/F, Forestville, MD (6-5, 210) - 5 Star, No. 25 overall
- Jaxon Richardson, G/F, Orlando, FL (6-6, 205) - 4-star, No. 27 overall
- Tarris Bouie, G/F, Geneva, OH (6-6, 170) - 4-star, No. 50 overall
Transfer Portal Targets:
- C Chol Machot (Charleston)
- CG Jasper Johnson (Kentucky)
- F/C Bangot Dak (Colorado)
- PF Cade Phillips (Tennessee)
- G Matt Able (NC State)
- G John Blackwell (Wisconsin)
- G Alex Wilkins (Furman)
- G/F Abdi Bashir Jr. (Kansas State)
- F Donnie Freeman (Syracuse)
- F/C Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State)
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