Alabama is going to be much, much deeper in the frontcourt next season.
Along with the additions of Brandon Garrison, Jamarion Davis-Fleming, and Drew Fielder in the Transfer Portal, Alabama will return Keitenn Bristow, who transferred to the Crimson Tide a year ago after a standout freshman season at Tarleton State. That gives Nate Oats four legitimate options in the frontcourt before even getting to Collins Onyejiaka, whose future remains uncertain, and then guys like London Jemison and Amari Allen, who logged quite a few minutes in the frontcourt this year out of necessity.
If you had asked Alabama fans before the opening of the Transfer Portal to bet on the Tide player most likely to enter, Bristow would have won that poll.
Due to various injuries, Bristow only played in 10 games for the Crimson Tide and played in his final game of the season on January 10th against Texas. Rumors were flying about the reasoning behind that, but Bristow's decision to return to Tuscaloosa next year should be a cautionary tale in ignoring the Chatty Cathys.
The portal officially closed for new entrants Tuesday night, and Bristow made his return to Alabama official with a Wolf of Wall Street video on his X account:
#TWN #KEI10 pic.twitter.com/9792tYnLio
— Keitenn Bristow (@KeitennB) April 22, 2026
Keitenn Bristow announces his return to Alabama
Bristow will undoubtedly be seeking a medical waiver after only playing in 10 games. He could still have three years of eligibility remaining.
Bristow made his Alabama debut on November 19th against Illinois and made a major impact in what was ultimately the Crimson Tide's signature win of the season in Chicago. He scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, earning praise from Illinois head coach Brad Underwood after the game.
Bristow scored 7 points and snagged 11 rebounds in his second game, a 10-point loss to Gonzaga in Las Vegas. He could never replicate those two performances again, but he was also never 100%.
He flashed in those two games enough for Alabama fans to be excited about his continued growth and potential. He'll likely function as the Tide's fourth big man behind Garrison, Fielder, and Davis-Fleming, but he's clearly a capable rotational piece who can help Alabama win games next season.
He's an energy-and-effort guy, and if Oats can get him to buy into that role, he'll be a real difference-maker in 2026-27.
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