The first roster domino has fallen for Alabama basketball in the aftermath of their Elite Eight loss to Duke on Saturday.
Less than 48 hours later, and the first non-senior departure has happened. Freshman wing Naas Cunningham, a former 4-star recruit, has decided to enter the Transfer Portal, per a report from ESPN:
NEWS: Alabama freshman Naas Cunningham is entering the transfer portal, sources told ESPN. Redshirted this season after being ranked in the ESPN 100 coming out of high school. 6-foot-7 wing with intriguing physical tools. Represented by @KlutchSports. pic.twitter.com/2B2qbUJUAW
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 31, 2025
A native of West Orange, New Jersey, Cunningham was a Top 50 recruit in the 2024 cycle. He was once considered the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class before his development stagnated late in his high school career.
Cunningham was considered more of a project and spent the season redshirting. Minutes would have been few and far between for him so by taking a redshirt he preserved a year of eligibility. He will have four years to play at whichever school he chooses.
Cunningham's decision to enter the Transfer Portal comes as little surprise. He always seemed like the most likely candidate to move on this offseason and roster attrition was always inevitable, as it always is during his era of college basketball.
With four departing seniors and a three-man recruiting class, Nate Oats and company only had one roster spot available prior to Cunningham entering the portal. Now, Alabama has two open roster spots and there are likely more to come.
Freshman guard Labaron Philon is widely expected to enter the 2025 NBA Draft and Cunningham is unlikely to be on the only player from the 2024-25 roster to enter the portal.
As a former Top 50 recruit, Cunningham is likely to generate plenty of interest in the Transfer Portal. At 6-foot-7, Cunningham has the prototypical size and skillset to be a 3-and-D wing.