It's not often in the Transfer Portal era that you keep a player for more than two years. If you haven't gotten them to a place they can make the professional jump after two seasons, they'll likely look for greener pastures elsewhere.
That's part of what makes sixth-year senior guard Latrell Wrightsell, currently in his third season with Alabama basketball, rare.
Wrightsell is the last remaining player in Tuscaloosa from Alabama's Final Four team two years ago. Other players from that team are still in college basketball, but they sought greener pastures and/or richer paydays. Rylan Griffin (Texas A&M), Nick Pringle (Arkansas), Mo Dioubate (Kentucky), Jarin Stevenson (North Carolina), Sam Walters (SMU), Mo Wague (Oklahoma), Davin Cosby (Kennesaw State), and Kris Parker (UCF) are all still around, just donning different uniforms.
In fairness, Wrightsell never expected to be at Alabama for three years. He was honored on Senior Day two years ago, but took advantage of the COVID year exception - alongside Mark Sears and Grant Nelson - to return to the Crimson Tide last season.
What should have been Wrightsell's swan song in Tuscaloosa turned into a nightmare when he tore his Achilles during the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. He was granted a medical redshirt for one more season.
But this is it for Wrightsell. And he knows that. It's that fact that is driving a sense of urgency for him with March now here. He knows what it takes to win at this level better than anyone else on the roster, and Oats hopes that will rub off on other players.
"Look, it’s his last year in college basketball," Oats said. "He sees it. … We’re the only team in the country to go to the Final Four and the Elite Eight the last two years, and he’s been a part of both of those. And he knows what it takes to win in March. ...We need somebody like him, and he’s doing it, and probably somebody else, and some of our other leaders and better players to have the sense of urgency that he has, because he’s got a sense of urgency right now.”
Latrell Wrightsell wants to leave a lasting legacy with Alabama basketball
Wrightsell is certainly playing like he has a sense of urgency. He's scored 18+ points in five of the Crimson Tide's last seven games. He scored 19 points in 24 minutes in the loss to Georgia and led Alabama with five rebounds and two steals.
Wrightsell was pivotal in Alabama's road win over Tennessee on Saturday, pouring in 25 points and keeping the Crimson Tide in the game long enough for Labaron Philon to take over down the stretch.
He knows the level of play it takes to win games this time of year. His ascension in SEC play has made Alabama more dangerous as March Madness approaches.
"I know what it takes to win at this level," Wrightsell said after the Georgia loss. ..."I felt like a lot of people just weren't giving us the same energy that we normally see out of everybody else.
"This isn't easy. Nothing is going to be easy. We're in March...this is where we need to be peaking."
Wrightsell will be honored on Senior Day for a second time at Alabama on Saturday, alongside Houston Mallette and Noah Williamson. He wants to finish his Crimson Tide career the same way it started: with a Final Four. Only this time, Wrightsell hopes he and his teammates are the last ones standing when the confetti falls.
"I want to be there, and I want to go to the National Championship and do something that this program hasn't done to end off my legacy here," Wrightsell said. "So that's the reason why I've been so fiery. I just want to be known as a winner at the end of the day. Bring whatever I have and give all it takes and put everything I have on the floor for the Crimson Tide nation, because I truly love it here, and it's been a blessing to me."