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Tracker: Alabama Basketball’s Returners, Additions, Departures for 2026-27 Season

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Tracker: Alabama Basketball’s Returners, Additions, Departures for 2026-27 Season


4-seed Alabama basketball fell to 1-seed Michigan 90-77 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on March 27 in Chicago. This loss ended the Crimson Tide’s 2025-26 season with a 25-10 record.

These next couple of days will be a reflection for Alabama and head coach Nate Oats. The Tide will recount the moments that made them laugh, cry and created a bond that will last a lifetime. But the page will be turned to the 2026-27 season very soon.

The transfer portal opens on April 7, the day after the National Championship, and closes on April 21. BamaCentral is keeping track of the Crimson Tide’s outgoing and incoming players and coaches right here ahead of next season.

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This article will be updated regularly throughout the offseason as changes to the roster and staff occur.

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Last Update: March 28

Players Who Could Return, Transfer or Enter NBA Draft

G Labaron Philon Jr. (would be a junior)
G Aden Holloway (would be a senior)
G Jalil Bethea (would be a junior)
G Davion Hannah (would be a sophomore *pending redshirt*)
G Preston Murphy Jr. (would be a senior)
F Amari Allen (would be a sophomore)
F Aiden Sherrell (would be a junior)
F London Jemison (would be a sophomore)
F Taylor Bol Bowen (would be a senior)
F Keitenn Bristow (would be a junior *pending redshirt*)
C Collins Onyejiaka (would be a sophomore *pending redshirt*)

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Exhausted Collegiate Eligibility

Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

Wrightsell was the lone 2025-26 Alabama player who was also a member of the 2023-24 Final Four team. He wrapped up his sixth season of basketball, playing three with the Crimson Tide after starting his career with Cal State Fullerton. He was labeled by Oats as a leader of this team on numerous occasions and his early departure from last season following an Achilles rupture gave him a National Championship mentality.

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Wrightsell averaged 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals. In 27 appearances (19 starts), he played 27.3 minutes per game and had shooting splits of .403/.360/.793.

Houston Mallette

Whenever Mallette’s name was mentioned during a press conference, Oats lit up and gushed over him. The guard was also recognized as a leader and it showed every game via his extreme energy on and off the floor. Like Wrightsell, Mallette’s 2024-25 season — his first in Tuscaloosa after three years at Pepperdine — ended early due to knee injuries, and he plays every game as if it’s his last.

Mallette averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.6 steals. In 35 appearances (12 starts), he played 23.3 minutes per game and had shooting splits of .372/.355/.886.

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Noah Williamson

Williamson transferred out of Bucknell last offseason after being named the Patriot League Player of the Year. The Alabama center was available for every game this season, but he averaged less than 10 minutes per contest. His season-high was 10 points against Kentucky, but he also scored eight with two 3-pointers in the Round of 32 win over Texas Tech.

Williamson averaged 1.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks. In 33 appearances (no starts), he played 8.2 minutes per game and had shooting splits of .313/.167/.643.

Officially Returning

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Will be updated

NBA Draft Declarations

Will be updated

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Outgoing Transfers

Will be updated

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Incoming Transfers

Will be updated

Assistants on the Move

Will be updated

Incoming Assistants

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Will be updated

The 2026 Recruiting Class

The rankings listed are from the time of each player’s commitment

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Tarris Bouie, Small Forward

Bouie, who signed with Alabama last November, is the No. 33 prospect on the ESPN 100 list. The 6-foot-6, 170-pound SPIRE Academy standout from Geneva, Ohio, is the 13th-ranked player at his position and the second-best athlete in his state.

“I have a very good relationship with coach [Nate] Oats,” Bouie told ESPN when he committed. “We talk often, and that was the big difference in my decision. He is a genuine guy. Coach Oats recruited me hard, and I really like their style of play. Over the summer, I remember him being at almost every one of my games.

Qayden Samuels, Small Forward

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The 6-foot-5, 210-pound standout from Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., is ranked as a consensus 4-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 18 prospect nationally, the No. 6 small forward and the No. 2 recruit in the state, per 247 Sports. He’s also the No. 23 prospect in On3’s rankings and holds the No. 22 spot in ESPN’s list.

“Qayden Samuels is an electric scorer and has proven himself to be one of the best scorers in the country,” Oats said in a press release. “Qayden is a very good athlete who plays above the rim and makes good plays with the ball in his hands. We are elated to sign one of the most sought-after players in the country.”

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Jaxon Richardson, Small Forward

The 6-foot-6, 205-pounder from Southeastern Prep is ranked as the No. 21 prospect nationally, the No. 7 small forward and the No. 4 player in the state of Florida, per 247 Sports. He’s also the No. 27 prospect in On3’s rankings and is No. 17 in the ESPN100.

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The McDonald’s All-American is the son of former NBA player Jason Richardson, who was in the league for 14 years. He’s also the brother of Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson.

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Alabama

Two Alabama Players, One Coach Being Considered for 2027 CFB Hall of Fame Class

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Two Alabama Players, One Coach Being Considered for 2027 CFB Hall of Fame Class


Former Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones and linebacker DeMeco Ryans are under consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2027 class, the National Football Foundation announced on Monday.

Dennis Franchione, who was Alabama’s head coach during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, is also under consideration. Franchione was a two-time NAIA National Coach of the Year before moving into Division I, where he led New Mexico to its first bowl in 36 years and TCU to its first postseason win since 1957. He took over a 3-8 Alabama team and led the Tide to a 10-win season in 2002, later guiding Texas A&M to consecutive victories over Texas (2006-07) and a berth in the 2005 Cotton Bowl.

Jones is a two-time First Team All-American (2011-unanimous, 2012-consensus) and winner of the 2012 NFF Campbell, 2012 Rimington, 2011 Outland and 2011 Wuerffel trophies. He Led Alabama to three national titles and two SEC crowns.

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The three-time First Team All-SEC selection is arguably the most decorated offensive lineman in school history, winning national honors at three different positions (center, tackle, guard). The 2012 Alabama captain played through Lisfranc injury with at least two torn ligaments suffered in SEC Championship Game. He also played in the national title game before having surgery that kept him out of the NFL combine.

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DeMeco Ryans, who is currently the head coach of the Houston Texans, could be considered the best player of the Mike Shula years as he was the program’s top draft pick between 1998-08 (between first-round selections Dwayne Rudd and Andre Smith).

During his senior season, the linebacker led Alabama with 76 tackles including 9.5 for a loss, en route to being named a first-team All-American, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and Lott Trophy winner as college football’s best impact defensive player.

These three are among 80 players and nine coaches from the FBS, along with 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks.

Alabama currently has 28 representatives in the College Football Hall of Fame, with the most recent inductees being Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram in the 2026 class and seven-time national champion (six at Alabama) head coach Nick Saban in the 2025 class. Ingram was the first Crimson Tide player under Saban to be inducted.

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Alabama in the College Football Hall of Fame

(Member, Year Inducted)

  1. Don Hutson, 1951
  2. Frank Thomas, 1951
  3. Fred Sington, 1955
  4. Wallace Wade, 1955
  5. Don Whitmire (transferred to Navy after two years), 1956
  6. Johnny Mack Brown, 1957
  7. Pooley Hubert, 1964
  8. Millard “Dixie” Howell, 1970
  9. John Cain, 1973
  10. Lee Roy Jordan, 1983
  11. Riley Smith, 1985
  12. Paul “Bear” Bryant, 1986
  13. Vaughn Mancha, 1990
  14. Harry Gilmer, 1993
  15. Ozzie Newsome, 1994
  16. John Hannah, 1999
  17. Johnny Musso, 2000
  18. Billy Neighbors, 2003
  19. Cornelius Bennett, 2005
  20. Woodrow Lowe, 2009
  21. Gene Stallings, 2010
  22. Marty Lyons, 2011
  23. Derrick Thomas, 2014
  24. E.J. Junior, 2020
  25. Sylvester Croom, 2022
  26. Antonio Langham, 2024
  27. Nick Saban, 2025
  28. Mark Ingram, 2026

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Alabama troopers launch 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign

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Alabama troopers launch 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) kicked off its annual 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign as the summer travel season begins.

The campaign runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a period troopers call the “100 deadliest days of summer.”

Over Memorial Day weekend, troopers investigated four traffic deaths and one boating fatality. They issued more than 1,400 speeding citations, 365 seat belt violations, and made 14 DUI arrests on roadways statewide.

On the water, Marine Patrol made four boating under the influence arrests and conducted nearly 500 vessel stops.

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ALEA says the goal this summer is education and enforcement. Troopers say that means buckling up, watching your speed, keeping your distance, and putting the phone down every time you get behind the wheel.

“More traffic means people get complacent. More car crashes, more injuries, more fatalities,” said ALEA Trooper Brandon Bailey. “Check your tires, make sure they’re at the appropriate tread depth. If you don’t have the appropriate amount of tread, it could easily lead to hydroplaning.”

ALEA says they will have increased patrols on roads and waterways through Labor Day.

Click or tap here to learn more.

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Alabama football in for some major recruiting news soon

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Alabama football in for some major recruiting news soon




Alabama football is in a position to hear some positive recruiting news ‘soon,’ Touchdown Alabama has learned.

This news is expected to come from one of the top recruits the Crimson Tide hosted for an official visit this weekend, most likely in the form of a verbal commitment. This decision is coming off an ‘amazing’ official visit. Alabama will work to build its 2027 class over the next several weeks, with a long list of top recruits expected in Tuscaloosa in June.

Monshun Sales (5-Star WR), Hayden Stepp (5-Star CB), Osani Gayles (4-Star WR) , Kenneth Simon (4-Star LB), Avrian Pauley (3-Star DL), Mitchell Turner (4-Star DL), Antwan Jackson (4-Star Edge) and Nigel Newkirk (4-Star RB) were among the top prospects the Tide had on campus for an official visit this weekend.

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Alabama currently has commitments from six 2027 prospects. Three of those recruits are offensive prospects, with pledges from Elijah Haven, Trent Seaborn and Oakley Keegan. The defensive side is represented by Avrian Pauley, Kenneth Simon and Stevan Thornton.

Touchdown Alabama will provide updates on the Crimson Tide’s recruiting efforts throughout the next several weeks.

 

 

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