The most used word to describe college basketball's Transfer Portal situation is chaos. Alabama basketball fans want Nate Oats to quiet the clamor by building a 2026-27 roster quickly. The reality is that Oats will be working on roster building for at least a couple of months. A final roster will take even longer due to circumstances Oats cannot control; the legal process Aden Holloway must work through.
In the interim, there are reasons for Alabama fans to be optimistic. An underperforming transfer group should not be repeated from last season. There are multiple reasons why better results can be expected. The first is the new contract for Oats. It is believed that with it came assurance of a boost in player payroll funds. Insiders project that Oats will have $3M to $4M more than last season. Another reason is that the early roster attrition is below the SEC average. So far, 63 SEC players have entered the Portal. Six SEC teams are losing six or more players. A fair guess is Alabama's Portal depletion will not go past four.
Somewhat of a surprise is no Portal entry for Keitenn Bristow. For months, rumors were that Bristow would move on. So far, that has not happened.
The other big unknown that Nate Oats must plan for is Amari Allen. Allen is expected to enter the NBA draft process, and based on feedback from NBA teams, his decision could come as late as May 27. It is reported that Alabama and Wisconsin guard John Blackwell have mutual interest. Blackwell has already announced that he will enter the Draft, but like Allen, could also return to college ball for another season.
Alabama Basketball Roster Patience
Nate Oats needs roster numbers. That is one reason why the expected addition of former Tennessee player Cade Phillips makes sense. But Oats, short of a sudden homerun addition, must be patient in using his extra funds. Holding on to Allen and possibly landing Blackwell will take considerable dollars.
One player Oats will not hesitate to add quickly is Colorado transfer Bangot Dak. The 7-footer is slim and more of a '4' than a '5', but he is a rim protector and shot blocker, and a dynamic offensive player. He is a perfect fit for the Oats' system, and hopefully that will give the Crimson Tide some discount on what will be a high-dollar cost. The competition for Dak will be considerable.
Worried Alabama fans might consider that Alabama made a Sweet 16 despite the 2025-26 transfer class adding little value to the roster. A more productive transfer class should be expected for 2026-27.