It's happening a year later than he initially intended, but Nate Oats is changing the makeup of Alabama's roster this offseason.
It was obvious to him during last season's Elite Eight loss to Duke that Alabama needed to get bigger in the backcourt. It was obvious throughout this season that Alabama needed to get bigger in the frontcourt, too.
Against Duke in the Elite Eight, playing Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, and Aden Holloway together was impossible. Duke's length smothered Sears and Holloway, in particular, holding the duo to 11 points on a combined 4-of-20 from the floor.
Oats prioritized length and getting bigger in the Transfer Portal and in last year's recruiting class. But Philon's unexpected return meant that Alabama's best lineup combination was going to include three guards 6-foot-4 or smaller in Philon, Holloway, and Latrell Wrightsell. He rolled with it, but the Crimson Tide had a ceiling and reached it. in the Sweet 16.
Things will look different next year.
Alabama will be bigger across the roster. It's clear that the plan is that Holloway will be able to play next year, and Oats plans to surround him with as much length and versatility as possible to cover defensive gaps and create room for him to flourish offensively.
Alabama's 2026 recruiting class and Transfer Portal activity make that changing philosophy perfectly clear.
Nate Oats is rebuilding Alabama's roster with size and versatility
Oats has always preached a system of modern, positionless basketball. You can't think of it as traditional point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers anymore. You have guards, wings, and bigs, and the Crimson Tide's roster will have numerous players who can fit more than one of those categories.
In the high school recruiting class, Alabama added the following:
- Qayden Samuels (6-foot-5)
- Tarris Bouie (6-foot-6)
- Jaxon Richardson (6-foot-6)
And in the Transfer Portal, the Tide has added:
- Brandon Garrison (6-foot-10)
- Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-foot-10)
- Cole Cloer (6-foot-7)
As things stand, Alabama's scholarship roster is up to 13 players. There are two spots left available, but the portal remains open for four more days, meaning Alabama could still lose a player or two. None of last season's roster has officially made announcements that they are returning.
The biggest variables are Holloway's legal issues and whether Amari Allen will test the NBA Draft waters.
As things stand, Holloway and Murphy Jr. are the only players under 6-foot-5 on the entire roster, and Murphy, barring major injury issues, won't be a rotational player.
The Crimson Tide is still in pursuit of another guard, but their top target appears to be Furman's Alex Wilkins, who is listed at 6-foot-5. He would be a great fit next to Holloway and would be perfectly capable of running the show if Holloway is unable to return.
Stylistically, Alabama will still play the same up-tempo, free-flowing style with a ton of three-pointers. But this team will look a lot different next year.
Oats is done getting bullied. He's done being out-toughed. He's done being smaller than the big boys.
Alabama will be big, versatile, and more true to its blue-collar roots.
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