We'll have to wait a little while to see USF transfer Chris Youngblood make his debut for Alabama basketball, but when he does, he's going to be a key contributor and likely starter.
Youngblood suffered an ankle injury a couple of weeks and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season with head coach Nate Oats saying he should be back to 100% by the time conference play opens at the first of January.
Youngblood is one of five graduate seniors on this roster, joining Mark Sears, Latrell Wrightsell, Grant Nelson, and Clifford Omoruyi, which would likely be the starting five at the beginning of the season if Youngblood was healthy and able to play.
Youngblood began his career at Kennesaw State, playing the first three years of his career for the Owls. His head coach left and took the USF job, and Youngblood followed him. He was the co-AAC player of the year for the Bulls last season, averaging a little over 15 points-per-game on nearly 42% shooting from three.
Youngblood chose to move on for his final season of college basketball, and the Tuscaloosa native decided to come home to play for Oats in the wide open system the Tide plays offensively.
Youngblood has already established himself as a leader on this team, and hasn't sulked through the injury, instead he's been vocally encouraging his teammates through practices and scrimmages.
Youngblood brings a blue-collar toughness to Alabama basketball, and it's easy to see why Oats and company aggresively pursued him out of the transfer portal. He's exactly the kind of player the coaching staff wants in Tuscaloosa.
Youngblood has been a consistent shooter, knocking down over 40% of his three-point attempts for three straight seasons. He has attempted 685 collegiate three pointers, and has hit 39% of them. In the last three seasons, Youngblood has attempted 534 three pointers, and has connected on 42% of them.
He is as proven as a shooter as there is at the collegiate level. Adding him with guys like Mark Sears and Latrell Wrightsell, who have also proven to be elite shooters at this level, as well as Auburn transfer Aden Holloway who could very well be the best shooter on the team with renewed confidence, makes this Alabama team extremely dangerous.
Youngblood can create his own looks, but for the most part he'll be used off the ball, which is just fine with Sears, Holloway, and Labaron Philon able to handle the rock. As a catch and shoot three point shooter, there aren't many better in the country than Youngblood. Last season, Youngblood posted an effective FG% of 61% on catch and shoot three's, which ranked in the 90th percentile among eligible players.
Youngblood brings an interesting wrinkle to the backcourt with his size, too. At 6'4 and over 220 pounds, he's built similarly to Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Lu Dort. He's a unit, and is difficult to deal with. He leverages his size and strength well defensively, making life tough on guards who are trying to get around him.
Alabama has the depth to be just fine with Youngblood on the mend, but the ceiling of this team gets higher with him fully healthy.