Nate Oats could be on the verge of landing another big piece to Alabama's 2027 class

Fresh off landing 5-star PF Zion Green last weekend, Nate Oats could be on the verge of reeling in another blue-chip prospect in a few days.

4-star center Yohane Kabongo, a 6-foot-9, 225-pounder out of Daytona Beach, by way of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will announce his college choice on Sunday. Alabama is a finalist in his recruitment, alongside Mississippi State and Tennessee:

Kabongo took an official visit to Tuscaloosa back on October 23rd. He also visited Starkville and Knoxville, and this is a three-horse SEC race to the finish line.

Alabama a finalist for 4-star center Yohane Kabongo

Oats has Alabama positioned to land another big piece of the 2027 class. Green's addition on Saturday paired him with 5-star combo guard Chase Lumpkin, vaulting the Crimson Tide's 2027 class into the Top 10 of the recruiting rankings. Adding a third Top 100 player would likely push Alabama into the Top 5.

Kabongo is on the shorter side for a true center at 6-foot-9, but he makes up for it with a long wingspan (7-foot-2+) and an explosive leaping ability. He looks like a perfect fit for Alabama's dunker spot and should bring some energy and athleticism to the frontcourt, assuming Oats and Preston Murphy can close the deal.

Kabongo could be the last real target for the Tide's 2027 class. Adding a talented developmental big man makes sense. With Collins Onyejiaka in his second year in the program and not part of the rotation, he's a guy who should be on transfer watch. True freshman TJ St. Louis appears to have already moved ahead of him in the pecking order, though neither will see many minutes this season.

Oats has moved toward more athletic, long, and quick bigs. That's why Brandon Garrison and Jamarion Davis-Fleming were brought in this offseason via the Transfer Portal. The drop coverage that has been a staple under Oats has not worked like it once did with Charles Bediako as the anchor.

Alabama has moved to a defense with a lot more switchability, something that Kabongo looks like he could handle rather easily.

There's limited intel out there about his recruitment, but Alabama looks to be in pretty solid shape heading into Sunday. As always with recruiting, things can change in the blink of an eye. But if Oats can land the talented big man to put a bow on this class with Lumpkin and Green already in tow, it'll be another elite haul for the Crimson Tide's head coach.

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