One of the biggest storylines Alabama basketball fans will be following in the next few weeks is the pending NBA Draft decision of star freshman wing Amari Allen.
Allen enjoyed an outstanding first season in Tuscaloosa, exceeding any and all expectations coming out of high school, and finds himself as a projected late first-round NBA Draft pick at the end of his freshman season with the Crimson Tide.
Will he stay or will he go? That's the question Alabama fans want answered, though they might have to be patient.
The NBA Draft's early entrant deadline has yet to be officially set, but it takes place 60 days before the draft. That typically means it's late April or early May, though the NBA has not yet officially set its date for the 2026 draft.
That doesn't mean Alabama fans aren't already reading into everything they see regarding Allen, however, including an Instagram post on Tuesday night that featured the song "Back Again" by King Von, which caused many to read into it that Allen would be coming back for his sophomore season:
Amari Allen posts a picture with the song "Back Again" by King Von playing. Is he trying to say something here? pic.twitter.com/QqXi6LkX26
— Theodore Fernandez (@TheoFernandez__) April 1, 2026
Amari Allen's Alabama future remains undecided
Allen sent a mixed message in the locker room following Alabama's Sweet 16 loss to Michigan. He stated that he would be back for the Crimson Tide next season...unless his agent advises him to go to the NBA.
It seems clear that Allen would like to remain in Tuscaloosa, but he's smart to take his time and gather as much feedback as he can.
Perhaps the best decision for Allen could be to follow the Labaron Philon path. That would include entering the NBA Draft while maintaining collegiate eligibility. That would allow Allen to participate in the NBA Combine and get direct feedback from NBA scouts on what he needs to work on to improve his draft stock.
That's what Philon did a year ago before shocking everyone by returning to the Crimson Tide. That turned out to be a profitable decision for Philon, who had a similar projection a year ago that Allen has now. Philon put together a 3rd Team All-American season for the Crimson Tide in 2025-26, boosting his draft stock into the lottery range.
That recent success by Philon will undoubtedly be the pitch Nate Oats uses when discussing Allen's basketball future.
Alabama fans are notoriously impatient, but this process is likely going to take a good bit longer before Allen is ready to make a decision on his future.
Oats and the staff will give him as much time as he needs.