Nate Oats has proven himself as one of the nation's top recruiters. He has routinely landed elite players for Alabama basketball every recruiting cycle. But Oats' greatest strength isn't the 5-stars he's brought in; it's his ability to evaluate those ranked lower who consistently outperform their ranking.
Guys like Noah Clowney, who wasn't on NBA Draft radars when he arrived at Alabama, but ended up being a one-and-done with the Crimson Tide before being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Labaron Philon was that guy for Alabama last year. He was a late add to the 2024 recruiting class and instantly became one of the best freshmen guards in the country. He probably would have gotten drafted in the late first round or early second round in the draft, but ultimately elected to return to Alabama for his sophomore season.
Now, it looks like Oats has grabbed another underrated recruit who is going to make an immediate impact as a freshman.
“I think the guy that maybe has stood out, maybe as a surprise based on where he was ranked and where he’s gonna end up playing would be a guy like Amari Allen," Oats told reporters on Monday. “I don’t pay that close attention to the rankings, but I will say he’s gonna be a lot better than what he was ranked. Like how Labaron was a lot better than he was ranked coming out of high school.”
Nate Oats believes Amari Allen will have an instant impact for Alabama
Allen was a consensus 4-star recruit and the No. 102 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, according to the 247 composite rankings.
There's been a buzz around the Green Bay native for a couple of months now since he arrived on campus. With the recent injury to Miami (FL) transfer Jalil Bethea, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Allen starting alongside Labaron Philon in the backcourt for the Crimson Tide.
Allen is a big guard at 6-foot-8 and will provide great length in the backcourt for the Crimson Tide. Allen is a two-way player who has impressed Oats with his effort, defense, and ability to run the offense with the ball in his hands.
"He's a big guard, plays hard, physical, he's about winning," Oats said. "He plays defense, he can make shots, he can run the team, he can play in pick-and-roll, he can pass the ball, he can finish at the rim. I think he's primed to have a really good year for us."
Alabama has its first scrimmage next Thursday the 16th against Florida State in Birmingham. The regular season officially tips off on November 3rd at Coleman against North Dakota.
It won't be much longer until Alabama fans get a glimpse at their newest star freshman.