Alabama basketball to get visit next week from former Top 10 recruit

A former Top 10 recruit in the 2024 recruiting class is planning a visit to Alabama basketball next week after the dead period ends.
Dec 21, 2024; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea (3) reacts after scoring against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea (3) reacts after scoring against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Nate Oats and Alabama basketball have been busy in the Transfer Portal over the last week since the Crimson Tide's season ended in the Elite Eight against Duke. Since then, the Tide has landed two commitments - Bucknell center Noah Williamson and Florida State forward Taylor Bol Bowen. Additionally, Alabama has seen two players enter the Transfer Portal so far in Naas Cunningham and Mouhamed Dioubate.

As things currently stand, Alabama has one open roster spot. That could ultimately swell to three without any other player entering the portal if the scholarship expansion to 15 happens. There's also a non-zero chance that there's more roster attrition on the way.

Oats and company are still actively pursuing several players in the portal. One of those they are in hot pursuit of is planning a visit to Tuscaloosa next week after the recruiting dead period ends on April 10th.

Per Jon Rothstein, Miami (FL) transfer guard Jalil Bethea is planning visits next week to both Alabama and NC State:

Bethea was a 5-star prospect and the No. 7 overall prospect in the country per the 247 Composite rankings in the 2024 class.

Bethea had a disappointing freshman season on a bad Miami team. He averaged just 7.1 points per game and shot 36.8% from the floor. He would be a reclamation project not dissimilar to what Aden Holloway was last year when he transferred in from Auburn.

It looks like it's going to come down a Nate Oats vs. Will Wade battle for Bethea. Alabama is also actively recruiting Jacksonville State guard Jaron Pierre Jr. It remains to be seen which player they would prioritize if only one spot existed.

Labaron Philon's pending NBA Draft decision will determine Alabama's next moves

Where Alabama turns at guard for next season is going to depend on what Labaron Philon ultimately decides to do. It's no secret that Oats wants Philon back in Tuscaloosa next year as his starting point guard. But Philon is weighing whether or not to enter the 2025 NBA Draft vs. coming back to Alabama for his sophomore season.

Philon has a wide range of NBA Draft possibilities with some experts pushing him as a lottery pick and others seeing him as more of a 2nd round project.

If Philon leaves, I would think Alabama would prioritize a proven veteran guard like Jacksonville State's Pierre. Someone who has proven they can run an offense and be the center of attention. If Philon is returning, Bethea might make more sense as a guy who could be comfortable in a smaller, bench-type role next season as he continues to develop.

The deadline to enter the NBA Draft is April 26th. You can enter the draft while retaining your collegiate eligibility. By doing so, players would then have until June 15th to withdraw from the draft and return to college.

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