Jarin Stevenson looks to make the sophomore leap for Alabama Basketball

It was an up and down freshman season for Alabama basketball's Jarin Stevenson as a freshman in 2023-24, but he flashed his immense potential enough to flirt with an early entry into the NBA Draft. Stevenson ultimatley decided to return to Tuscaloosa for his sophomore season, adding to a loaded group of talented players for Nate Oats.

Stevenson was one of the youngest players in college basketball last season. The North Carolina native reclassified into the class of 2023 and played his entire freshman season at just 18-years old.

His transition was rocky at times, which was to be expected for a guy who should have been a high school senior. He drew early comparisons to Noah Clowney, who parlayed one season at Alabama into being a first round pick by the Brooklyn Nets, but he wasn't physically ready to shoulder the inside burden, particularly on defense, that Clowney did in his freshman season.

He is a similar player, though, and his ability to play a stretch four or five role for the Crimson Tide is an integral part of Oats' offensive system. He's even practiced some at the three, giving Oats the opportunity to play a mega-sized lineup of Stevenson-Nelson-Omoruyi in the frontcourt if he so chose.

As a freshman, Stevenson played in 37 games and averaged a little over 16 minutes per game. He averaged 5.3 points-per-game and 2.7 rebounds-per-game on 42/32/69 shooting splits.

Regardless of how Stevenson's career goes from here, he writ his name in crimson flame in the Elite 8 against Clemson. With Mark Sears struggling early and Alabama finding themselves trailing by double digits, it was Stevenson who put the offense on his back and got the Crimson Tide back into the game.

He scored 19 points on 5/8 shooting from three and blocked two shots as he paired with Sears to lift Alabama over Clemson and into the program's first Final Four.

Finding consistency with his outside shot and continuing to grow into his body will be key for Stevenson to carve out a bigger role as a sophomore and to get even further onto NBA Draft radars. Stevenson came to Alabama as a 6'8" 190 pound kid. He's currently listed at 6'11" and 215 pounds.

His growth and added bulk will help him deal with bigs in the SEC a lot better than he did last season. Advanced metrics show he was one of the worst individual defenders for the Crimson Tide a year ago.

Had Grant Nelson chosen to go pro instead of returning for his fifth season of college basketball, there would be an obvious starting spot for Stevenson at the four. But with Nelson returning and the addition of Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi, Stevenson will likely come off the bench again as a sophomore.

It's possible he sees some minutes at the three, but his future is in the frontcourt and I imagine he'll be the first big off the bench. If he can bring it every night defensively and increase his three-point shooting to 35% or higher, then he's going to be tough to keep off the floor.

In any case, Stevenson gives Alabama quality depth and is a guy who would probably start for 95% of D-1 teams this season. It speaks to quality of talent in Tuscaloosa right now that he's a guy who is likely going to come off the bench.

Projected Role: First big off the bench