Nate Oats and Alabama basketball just filled its 11th roster spot and landed its fourth player out of the Transfer Portal. WAC Freshman of the Year and Tarleton State transfer forward Keitenn Bristow announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Wednesday morning:
Bristow was a true freshman last season at Tarleton State and had an impressive debut campaign. He averaged 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 26 minutes per game. He shot 46% from the field, 32.8% from three, and 79% from the free throw line.
Alabama had a need at forward following the departures of Mo Dioubate, Derrion Reid, and Jarin Stevenson in the Transfer Portal. Bristow figures to play a similar kind of role as Stevenson with his ability to be a stretch-four and handle the ball a little bit.
Bristow looks like a solid and versatile defender on tape, but obviously it will be a steep increase in competition going from the WAC to the SEC. He did score 17 points and grab 7 rebounds in a December road loss to Oklahoma State, which is encouraging.
Bristow was on a visit to Alabama last week and the Crimson Tide emerged as the favorite coming out of it.
Nate Oats is betting on Bristow's upside
Bristow is the perfect type of upside swing for Oats to take on a player with one of the final roster spots. If he busts, no harm, no foul. It's tough to play more than 10 guys anyway. If he hits, it'll be a bonus for next season's team.
There are minutes available at the four. Alabama figures to either start a two-center lineup with Aiden Sherrell and Noah Williamson together or one will come off the bench with Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen likely playing the four.
Bristow will likely be competing with freshman London Jemison for the backup four minutes, though either of those guys - as well as Bowen - can play the three as well.
Alabama still has two roster spots available. One of those spots seems likely to go to former Crimson Tide wing Rylan Griffen. His path to the roster became clearer once Washington State transfer Cedric Coward chose Duke over the Crimson Tide.
That would leave one spot open. What Oats does with that final spot will be interesting. Labaron Philon hasn't completely closed the door on a return to Alabama, though waiting for him would be a risky proposition.
Philon has until June 15th to withdraw from the NBA Draft. If he chose to return to Tuscaloosa, it would be a big boost for the Tide. However, if Alabama waits around just for him to stay in the draft, they could be left with a glaring need at point guard.
As things stand, Aden Holloway is the only true point guard on the roster, and even he thrived in more of an off the ball role last season. Alabama does have combo guards in Jalil Bethea, Latrell Wrightsell, and freshman Davion Hannah. In Oats' system, you don't necessarily need a true point guard, just players who are able to beat their man off the dribble, penetrate the paint, and either finish or kick to open shooters on the perimeter.
Alabama's roster is beginning to take shape for 2025-26 with the addition of Bristow leaving only two open spots left. The Tide could get clarity on one of those spots pretty soon. It might be a while for the other.