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Patriot League Player of the Year is planning a visit to Alabama, per report

Alabama basketball will be replacing its starting front court for next season with both Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi exhausting their eligibility. The Crimson Tide is targeting the Patriot League's Player of the Year as a possible transfer candidate.
ByJohn Mitchell|
Dec 28, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Bucknell Bison center Noah Williamson (3) drives against Syracuse Orange forward Petar Majstorovic (right) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Bucknell Bison center Noah Williamson (3) drives against Syracuse Orange forward Petar Majstorovic (right) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

According to a report from On3's Joe Tipton, Bucknell center Noah Williamson is planning a visit to Alabama. The Patriot League's Player of the Year averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Williamson entered the Transfer Portal after three years with the Bison with one season of eligibility remaining.

Alabama will have a big need in the front court for 2025-26 with its starters inside - Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi - exhausting their eligibility. There's no guarantee the Crimson Tide will return freshman Aiden Sherrell, either, as the talented big man could opt to test the NBA Draft waters.

Williamson is a good rebounder and made 61% of his shots inside the arc. He has improved his jump shot and hit a respectable 31.8% of his 88 attempts from three this past season. He's far from an elite shooter, but the shot has to be respected, which helps pull rim protectors out of the paint to cover him.

One concerning thing about Williamson is that in three games against high-major competition, he struggled. He averaged 8.7 points per game while shooting 10-of-34 (29.4%) from the field.

The Transfer Portal is open with Nate Oats enlisting his top assistant, Preston Murphy, to handle things for now as Alabama continues to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide rolled to a 113-88 win over BYU on Thursday night to advance to the Elite Eight, where they will matchup with Duke on Saturday night in Newark.

Other bigs Alabama has contacted in the Transfer Portal

Alabama has expressed interest in Florida State 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Taylor Bol Bowen and 6-foot-8 LSU forward Corey Chest.

Bowen is especially intriguing coming off a sophomore season where he shot 41% from the three-point line. He's also considered an elite defender with shot blocking prowess. He is expected to visit the Crimson Tide on Tuesday.

Chest is one of the better athletes in the country but would likely be seen as more of a bench big for the Crimson Tide. His energy and effort would be a big help on the glass and defensively, but he's a bit undersized at 6-foot-8. That didn't matter much when he grabbed 18 rebounds against Alabama in January.

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