Alabama has plenty of new faces for the 2026-27 season. While the team is still projected to be led by returners Amari Allen and Aden Holloway, Nate Oats will have to rely on some newcomers to play significant roles.
Last year's star is gone with Labaron Philon declaring for the NBA Draft, where he was selected with the No. 22 pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Bama Central caught up with Philon before the draft and posed a great question with an intriguing answer.
Who does Philon think Alabama fans should keep an eye on next season?
While Philon went on to name highly ranked freshmen like Qayden Samuels and Tarris Bouie, along with rising sophomores in Allen and London Jemison, the first name he mentioned surely raised some eyebrows.
"I would say Cole [Cloer], definitely," Philon told Bama Central. "When I was there, he went on a visit and it was crazy how he shoots the ball. I feel like Cole is going to be [really good].
Labaron Philon singles out NC State transfer Cole Cloer as a player to watch for Alabama
Cloer might have been the most underrated addition for Oats this offseason. He will effectively be a true freshman despite spending half the season at NC State after enrolling in January following a season-ending injury during his senior season of high school ball. Cloer was a Top 30 recruit in the 2026 class before reclassifying. He entered the portal after the season, ultimately choosing Alabama.
His most intriguing skill is his ability to shoot the ball, particularly at his size. Cloer is listed at 6-foot-8, and he was one of the top shooters in high school before enrolling at NC State. Cloer connected on 43% of his threes during EYBL play last summer. He can make shots spotting up, but he can also hit them off the bounce.
Philon's endorsement could mean that Cloer will be a real factor in the competition for Alabama's starter at the three. Allen and Holloway project to start in the backcourt, and then guys like Jemison, Samuels, Jaxon Richardson, and evidently Cloer, should be competing for a spot on the wing. Cloer was kind of a forgotten guy in that battle, but his ability to stretch the floor in Oats' system will be invaluable. If he's the best shooter of those in the competition, as long as he isn't a complete sieve on the defensive end, he'll have a good chance to crack the lineup.
Cloer is another guy who will give Alabama some positional versatility. He can play on the wing, and he can probably slide up to the four in smaller lineups. Oats could throw out lineups with Holloway, Allen, Samuels, Cloer, and Drew Fielder that could rival any of the best three-point shooting groups he's ever put on the floor in Tuscaloosa.
It's clear from Philon's comments that Cloer should be taken seriously as a real impact player next season. His addition could be one of the underrated pieces that help make Alabama a real contender in the SEC and a real threat to make another deep NCAA Tournament run.
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