Amari Allen has a difficult decision facing him.
On one hand, he can remain in the NBA Draft and would likely be a late first-round pick by doing so. Allen's height coming in at 6-foot-5 without shoes, three inches shorter than the 6-foot-8 he was listed at by Alabama, will likely keep him from moving up inside the Top 20.
On the other hand, Allen could return to Alabama and be the primary ball-handler, growing his game at a position he might have to play in the NBA. With a sophomore leap like the one Labaron Philon took with the Crimson Tide, Allen could be a lottery selection in a much weaker 2027 draft class.
Both options carry their own level of risk. Without a guarantee, Allen could slip past the end of the first round and into the early second round range. He's been widely viewed as a first-round pick by draftniks, but those folks aren't the ones making decisions in NBA front offices.
While he could make a significant rise up the boards with a strong second season, sophomore jumps like the ones Philon took are far from guaranteed. If Allen returns to Alabama and his growth stagnates, the only difference in next year's draft could be that he's another year older.
Nate Oats intends to play Amari Allen at point guard if he comes back to Alabama
If Allen returns to Alabama, though, it's clear that Nate Oats is going to put him in a position to thrive. Even if Aden Holloway is able to play, the rising senior guard has proven to be more than capable off-the-ball, which would allow Allen to step into the lead guard spot vacated by Philon.
The potential to be the Crimson Tide's lead guard is intriguing to Allen, and something that is working heavily in Alabama's favor in getting him back in Tuscaloosa next season.
“That’s a key factor,” Allen said to reporters at the NBA Combine, via Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney. “It’s hard to turn that down. We’re going to be a top team in the country, so just being able to be the head of the snake, run offense for a top team in the country … it’s definitely something I have to [consider].”
Note the "we're going to be." He doesn't say "we would be." We're going to be. Perhaps that means nothing, perhaps it does.
The way Oats has constructed next season's roster, it's clear that Plan A has always been for Allen and Holloway to both be in Tuscaloosa next year. Despite losing Philon and Latrell Wrightsell, Oats was not aggressive in his pursuit of any guards in the portal.
Instead, the focus was on the frontcourt with the additions of Brandon Garrison, Jamarion Davis-Fleming, and Drew Fielder. Alabama also added a wing in Cole Cloer, but as things stand, there's a pretty significant need in the backcourt, pending Allen's decision and the outcome of Holloway's legal issues.
Oats undoubtedly has a pivot plan if needed, but getting Allen to return for next season is still the primary goal. Clarity on that is no more than two weeks away, with the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to college coming up on May 27th.
Add us as a preferred source on Google