As many expected, star Alabama freshman Amari Allen has officially announced he will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility. This will allow Allen to go through the NBA Draft process and gather direct feedback from teams before he decides whether to remain in the draft or return to Alabama for his sophomore season.
Amari Allen declares for the NBA draft while maintaining his eligibility (via his Instagram) pic.twitter.com/6hmFWC964E
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) April 20, 2026
This always felt like the most likely path for Allen, who outplayed his recruiting ranking and turned into one of the Crimson Tide's most valuable players this past season. There was optimism that maybe Allen would announce his return immediately, particularly following UConn's Braylon Mullins skipping the draft process to return to the Huskies.
This move, while not unexpected, puts Nate Oats and Alabama in a more precarious position with finalizing next season's roster.
Nate Oats needs to priortize a portal guard now that Amari Allen has entered the draft
Oats has used his energy in the Transfer Portal so far to rebuild the Tide's frontcourt. Alabama added Kentucky's Brandon Garrison and Mississippi State's Jamarion Davis-Fleming to get more athletic up front. After adding intriguing wing Cole Cloer, Alabama turned its attention back to the frontcourt with Boise State transfer forward/center Drew Fielder, who spent the weekend in Tuscaloosa on a visit and is on commitment watch.
It always felt a bit risky for Oats not to push for a guard with Allen potentially declaring for the draft and Aden Holloway's future up in the air as he navigates his legal issues. Now, with Allen officially declaring, Oats has no choice but to find a guard in the portal.
There remains a decent chance Allen returns, but it's all up in the air and will depend largely on how he performs at the NBA Draft Combine.
The Combine is set for May 10-17 in Chicago, and the deadline for college players to withdraw from the draft and maintain their eligibility is May 27th.
Oats and Alabama went through this same song and dance a year ago with Labaron Philon, who seemed dead set on staying in the draft. He ultimately pulled a stunning 180 to return for his sophomore season, which culminated in a third-team All-American selection and a likely lottery selection in this year's class.
Allen could follow a similar path. He's currently projected as a late first or early second round pick, and returning to Alabama for his sophomore season could ultimately prove to be profitable, both in the short and long term.
Next year's draft class is not expected to be as deep as this year's, and Allen could parlay a strong sophomore year into a potential lottery selection next year.
Then again, Allen has a lot going for him. He's a 6-foot-8 guard/wing with translatable skills on both ends of the floor. He can initiate offense, shoot threes at a solid clip, rebound, and defend multiple positions. NBA teams frequently draft on potential, and Allen oozes it.
Oats will need to take a look at the current available guards and find someone who could be a difference maker in the Alabama backcourt. The other option is waiting for Allen/surveying the landscape again, following the withdrawal deadline.
It's a risky move, but Oats appears willing to roll the dice a second straight offseason.
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