Alabama fans won't have to wait long for freshman Jaxon Richardson to make Coleman Coliseum erupt.
The 5-star from Orlando will be one of the most impressive leapers in college basketball from the moment he dons the crimson jersey. He comes by it honest as the son of two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson.
Richardson won the Slam Dunk crown at the McDonald's All-American game early this year. While his offensive game is a bit raw, there's little doubt that Richardson will make an immediate impact in Tuscaloosa due to his energy, effort, and defensive acumen.
A big reason for that is his elite athletic ability. That was on full display in a viral clip from practice on Tuesday:
Get your popcorn ready 🍿 #RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/9SgwPhXfFs
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) June 30, 2026
Jaxon Richardson gets up for a monster slam in Alabama practice
The clip shows Amari Allen missing a mid-range fadeaway - which is how you know it's just practice - and Richardson leaping through the air for a putback dunk.
That's the kind of stuff Alabama fans can expect from Richardson next season. He's going to bring the blue-collar effort that Nate Oats adores every single night. There are a lot of hard hats in his future.
Regardless of how Richardson develops offensively this summer, he's going to be difficult to keep off the floor. His energy and work ethic will be contagious. At the least, he should be a supercharged version of Mo Dioubate, who had an impactful two-year run with the Crimson Tide before chasing bags in the Transfer Portal for back-to-back cycles.
Richardson's swing skill figures to be his three-point shooting. It's the biggest reason he chose Alabama in the recruiting process. Oats will pump him full of confidence as a shooter, and he'll get the opportunity to develop that aspect of his game. If it comes around, then he'll not only be one of the best players on next year's roster, but a potential lottery pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Richardson is one of a trio of impressive freshmen who could carve out early roles for the Crimson Tide, joining fellow 5-star Qayden Samuels and 4-star Tarris Bouie. All are talented and versatile wings, adding to a roster full of size and versatility.
Alabama has the potential to be one of the best teams in the country next season. Richardson will be a major reason why, and if his swing skill develops quickly, he'll increase the team's ceiling as well as his own.
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