When it comes to roster building in college basketball, you'd better have a backup plan. And a backup plan to that backup plan. Things can and will change quickly, particularly with how the NBA Draft process pans out.
Nate Oats knows this very well. A year ago, Alabama went through the exact same scenario with Labaron Philon that it is now going through with Amari Allen. Philon went through the draft process and looked like a goner; the Crimson Tide was preparing to pivot when he decided at the last possible minute to return for his sophomore season.
This year, hopefully, answers will come quicker with regard to Allen's future. But this year, you also have to throw in the caveat of Aden Holloway's legal turmoil that puts his future out of Alabama's, or his own, hands.
The future of both players being in doubt means that Oats has to be prepared to pivot quickly. He's done good work in the Transfer Portal so far, but the roster is built with Holloway and Allen in mind. If one of, or both, aren't on next year's team, then Alabama will need to act quickly.
Oats is prepared for all scenarios.
Nate Oats is prepared for all scenarios with Aden Holloway and Amari Allen
"We’ve got scholarships open, and we’re looking for, if this happens, we’ve got to pivot this way, if this happens, we’ve got to pivot that way," Oats said on Wednesday at the Regions ProAm in Birmingham. "We’ve definitely got a plan for if we have one, or both, or neither back. It does make it a little more difficult with the timing of it all, but we’ve got a plan each way.
"We do have plans for whichever way this ends up happening. Hopefully we’ll have the Amari answer in the next few weeks here, and on the other front, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Alabama has not aggressively pursued any guard in the Transfer Portal thus far. They have contacted a few, and at one point were lining up a visit with Furman's Alex Wilkins before he committed to Kentucky, but it's been mostly quiet on that front.
That leads you to believe that Oats is comfortable with where Alabama sits with both Allen and Holloway. He's operated as if he expects both to return. If one, or both, don't, then he's prepared to pivot.
Fortunately for him, there aren't many better at building rosters and identifying talent than his assistant coach, Preston Murphy. Oats and Murphy likely have a detailed plan in place on what to do based on all scenarios.
Allen has until 11:59 ET on May 27th to either stay in the draft or return to Alabama for his sophomore season.
As for Holloway, it remains to be seen how long that situation takes to play out and what the result will be.
If Alabama gets both guys back, then this is a roster capable of going a long way. If both don't return, then this is suddenly a roster with a pretty significant hole to fill.
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