Alabama Basketball’s most important newcomer
This offseason, Nate Oats once again put on a masterclass in roster reconstruction. Not only did he retain All-American Mark Sears and several other key contributors, he landed a 4-man recruiting class that ranked second nationally, as well as a 4-man transfer class that was also one of the best in the country.
With these eight newcomers, Oats seemingly filled every possible hole on the roster and stockpiled excess talent on top of it. While there won’t be enough minutes to go around, every one of these newcomers is ready to play. Bama’s four freshmen all ranked in the top-50 in the class of 2024, while its four transfers were all in the top-120 of 247Sports’ transfer rankings.
Veterans that fill obvious needs, like shot-blocking center Cliff Omoruyi and two-way wing Chris Youngblood, are very likely to start and play major roles. However, freshman forward Derrion Reid could have the greatest impact on the 2024-25 Crimson Tide.
Reid can fill a role that the Alabama roster lacked last season and otherwise would have lacked this season. Listed at 6’8” and 220 pounds, he is a big, physical wing that will be a matchup nightmare at the collegiate level. While he doesn’t quite have the scoring capacity of someone like Brandon Miller, he gives the Tide a lot of similar traits athletically and defensively.
On a team that already has a very high floor, Derrion Reid lifts the ceiling to new heights. Surrounded by older players such as Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi, and countless shooters on the wing, it’s easy to envision Reid playing a role similar to that of UConn’s Stephon Castle.
Like Reid, the super-athletic wing stepped into a ready-made situation on a team primed to compete for a title. Over time, he became UConn’s defensive stopper and eventually a top-5 pick in the NBA Draft.
Derrion Reid could have a similar impact on this Alabama team. The former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American expanded his game even further by playing with USA Basketball’s U18 team this summer. He should be more than ready to contribute by the time the season starts, and could take college basketball by storm.