In-state 4-star recruit leaves Nate Oats and Alabama out in the cold

Alabama was one of the first Power Conference programs to offer 2026 four-star wing Gage Mayfield, getting in just days after Auburn became the first. However, the 6-foot-7 Moundville, Alabama, product just left both in-state powerhouses out in the cold with his list of recruiting finalists. 

Mayfield is the No. 68 overall recruit in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, and the No. 1 player in the state of Alabama. However, despite the interest from both Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl, two head coaches with recent Final Four appearances on their resumes, Mayfield has narrowed his list to five teams: Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. 

Gage Mayfield spurns Alabama with SEC heavy recruiting finalists

Alabama is not traditionally a hotbed for basketball talent, so when there is a highly-rated recruit, it’s important for Oats to stake his claim. Mayfield is the most highly ranked recruit from Alabama since Crimson Tide commit JD Davison was the 13th overall player in the 2021 class. Mayfield is also the first top-100 recruit since Davison. 

While he doesn’t have the smoothest release on his jump shot, Mayfield would have been a nice fit with Oats because he uses his length on the defensive end to cause deflections, create turnovers, and get out and run. Mayfield is comfortable leading the fast-break with the ball in his hands or giving it up and rim-running, with his impressive skillset at 6-foot-7 allowing him to be a versatile offensive creator in transition. 

Instead, Mayfield has a good chance of heading to an SEC rival, with Tennessee representing the worst-case scenario for Tide fans. The good news, however, is that Oats is perfectly comfortable recruiting out of state because it’s a necessity to building a top-notch program in Tuscaloosa. The four high school players in his 2025 class hail from Connecticut, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts, respectively. 

Oats still does not have a commit in the 2026 class, and with his propensity for roster building through the transfer portal, that’s not a huge concern. Oats added four high school players in 2025, a class that ranks No. 5 in the country, but that group didn’t make nearly the stir of Alabama’s portal haul. 

Mayfield spurning the Tide is a loss for Oats, but not one he can’t weather on the recruiting trail in 2026.