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 - committed to Oregon
- C Aiden Sherrell - committed to Indiana
- G Jalil Bethea - committed to Pitt
- G Davion Hannah
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 as expected.
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.
Davion Hannah enters the portal with just a few days to spare. The promising freshman played only 10 games for the Tide due to injury, but he seems to have a bright future. His decision could signal further moves to come.
Amari Allen joined Philon in declaring for the draft, but there's a lot more ambiguity with his decision. Allen announced he would be maintaining his college eligibility, and he'll have until May 27th to decide if he wants to stay in the draft or return to Alabama for his sophomore season. It's a decision that makes a ton of sense for Allen, but it puts the Tide's roster in serious limbo.
Who's staying at Alabama:
- F London Jemison
- F Keitenn Bristow
- G Aden Holloway
Promising freshman forward London Jemison was the first to announce his return to Alabama for his sophomore season. Jemison started 13 games and took over the starting PF spot for the Tide down the stretch.
Tarleton State transfer Keitenn Bristow, who only played in 10 games for Alabama this past season due to injury, announced his return to the Crimson Tide via a popular clip from the film The Wolf of Wall Street.
With the portal closed, Aden Holloway, Collins Onyejiaka, and Preston Murphy Jr. are all expected to remain at Alabama, too. They may not make formal announcements.
Who's joining Alabama:
Transfer Portal:
- C Brandon Garrison (Kentucky)
- F/C Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State)
- F Cole Cloer (NC State)
- F/C Drew Fielder (Boise State)
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.
In another signal of a potential philosophical change, Alabama added Mississippi State transfer big man Jamarion Davis-Fleming, who is nearly identical in size to Garrison at 6-foot-10 and 240+ pounds. He's athletic, a good rebounder, and a rim protector. The upside for him is tremendous.
Alabama's third portal pickup was NC State transfer Cole Cloer, a player the Crimson Tide coveted in the 2026 recruiting class. Cloer ended up choosing the Wolfpack to stay in his home state, and ultimately enrolled in January to begin his rehab from an injury he suffered. He was ineligible to play and redshirted, so he'll have four years of eligibility remaining as he arrives in Tuscaloosa. Cloer is billed as an elite shooter and one who could have an immediate impact for Alabama.
Oats capped off Alabama's frontcourt overhaul by adding Boise State PF/C Drew Fielder. The 6-foot-11 big man averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season for the Broncos and shot 41% from three-point range.
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)
- G John Blackwell (Wisconsin)
- G/F Abdi Bashir Jr. (Kansas State)
- F Donnie Freeman (Syracuse)
- G Joson Sanon (St. John's)
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