One of the biggest storylines in the coming weeks for Alabama basketball will be the impending NBA Draft decision by freshman Amari Allen.
While he may have hit the wall late in the season, the former 4-star recruit outplayed his recruiting ranking and positioned himself to potentially be selected in the first round in June.
He was an outstanding all-around player for the Crimson Tide this year, finishing third in scoring, third in assists, and leading the team in rebounds while being a versatile and quality defender. It's obvious why he's drawn the attention of NBA scouts. It's also obvious that Nate Oats and Alabama will be a better team next season if Allen returns for a sophomore campaign.
Following Alabama's 90-77 loss to Michigan in Friday's Sweet 16, Allen was asked about his basketball future. After quickly stating his desire to return to Alabama, he clarified that it'll depend on advice from his agent.
"I'll definitely be back here next year," Allen said. "Unless my agent says, you know, the NBA's the best option, but if that's not the case, I'll be right back here."
Amari Allen wants to be back at Alabama next year - unless his agent advises an NBA jump
So the only thing that Allen really said is that he's not going to jump in the Transfer Portal. Whether he's going to come back to Alabama or enter the NBA Draft will be contingent on the feedback his agent gathers from NBA teams.
The early-entrant deadline for the NBA Draft is not until April 26th. Prospects would then have until May 28th to remove their name from the draft and return to college, which is what Labaron Philon did a season ago. Testing the draft waters would make sense for Allen - there's no real harm in it, and you can gain valuable feedback on the parts of your game that need the most work.
Allen's struggles down the stretch run of the season might be a blessing in disguise for Oats and could be what causes him to return for a second season in Tuscaloosa. Allen scored just four points on 1-of-6 shooting against Michigan, and shot just 10-of-27 in the NCAA Tournament.
Outside of a strong performance against Auburn in the regular-season finale, the final seven games of the season were rough for the talented freshman.
Oats will have several players who ponder their future now that the season is over. Philon and Allen are the only two who should consider the NBA Draft.
Philon is as good as gone, but there's optimism that Allen may return and provide a nice immediate boost for the 2026-27 Tide roster.