Alabama Basketball Transfer Targets
Contents [hide]
- Why Alabama is a top destination for college basketball transfers
- The top 5 transfer targets for the Crimson Tide
- Why each of these players would be a good fit for Alabama
- What Alabama can offer these players that other schools can’t
- How the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff can help these players reach their potential
- What kind of impact each of these players could have on the program
- Why each of these players would be a good fit for Alabama’s style of play
- How each of these players could help Alabama compete for a national championship
- What kind of impact each of these players could have on the recruiting trail
- Why each of these players would be a good fit for Alabama’s campus and community
Alabama is looking to add some more firepower to its roster for next season and these are the targets that they are looking at.
Why Alabama is a top destination for college basketball transfers
Alabama Basketball is coming off a disappointing 2019-20 season in which they finished just 9-23 overall and 2-16 in SEC play.
The good news is that the Crimson Tide have a new Head Coach in Nate Oats who led Buffalo to a share of the MAC regular season title in his first season with the program in 2015-16. Oats then led the Bulls to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a upset win over Arizona in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament
One of the first things Oats did when he got to Alabama was put together a strong Coaching Staff He hired John Petty Jr.’s godfather Bryan Hodgson as an Assistant Coach and kept former Alabama player Josh Gale on staff. Petty and Gale are two of the best recruiters in the state of Alabama.
Oats has also been active on the transfer market, adding former Florida State guard James Coleman, who will be eligible to play immediately. Coleman averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season for the Seminoles.
The Crimson Tide are also in the mix for former Duke forward Wendell Carter Jr., who is one of the Top Players in the country that is considering transferring from his current school. Carter would have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, but he would be eligible to play for Alabama in 2021-22.
While Alabama may not be seen as a traditional basketball power, they are quickly becoming a destination for some of the top transfer targets in the country.
The top 5 transfer targets for the Crimson Tide
1) Josh Primo – The 6-foot-6 sharpshooter from Canada is one of the top available transfers on the market. He would give Alabama an instant scoring punch off the bench and would be a perfect fit in Nate Oats’ system.
2) Jabri Abdur-Rahim – The 6-foot-10 forward from New Jersey is one of the most versatile players in the transfer market. He can play inside and out, and would be a great complement to Alex Reese in the frontcourt.
3) Diante Smith – The 6-foot-4 guard from Mississippi is one of the best pure shooters in the transfer market. He would give Alabama another dangerous perimeter weapon, and would be a valuable asset on both ends of the court.
4) Michael James – The 6-foot-8 forward from Florida is one of the most athletic players in the transfer market. He would provide an instant spark on both ends of the court, and would be a key piece in Nate Oats’ rotation.
5) Jaren Lewis – The 6-foot-7 forward from Texas is one of the top rebounders in the transfer market. He would give Alabama a physical presence in the frontcourt, and would be a valuable asset on both ends of the court.
Why each of these players would be a good fit for Alabama
With the news that Alabama basketball is losing multiple players to the NBA draft and to transfer, they will be looking for some help next season. Here are some potential transfer targets that would be a good fit for the team.
Jahvon Quinerly: A former 5-star recruit, Quinerly was recently released from his national Letter of Intent with Arizona. He would be a great addition to the team as a backup point guard
Nate Reuvers: A 6’11” center from Wisconsin, Reuvers would provide some much-needed frontcourt depth for Alabama. He is a skilled shooter and would be a good complement to Alabama’s existing big men
Jordan Bruner: Bruner is a 6’9” forward who averaged 9.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season for Yale. He is a versatile player who can play both inside and out, and would add some much-needed experience to the Alabama frontcourt.
What Alabama can offer these players that other schools can’t
In order to be a top team you have to have top talent. That is especially true in the SEC. Here are some players that Alabama has their eye on for the upcoming season
5-star small forward JoshuaPrimo
-The 6-foot-7 Canadian import is one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
4-star point guard JD Davison
-The smooth 6-foot lefty from Hoover, Alabama, would provide an instant scoring punch off the bench for any team in the country.
4-star Power Forward Trendon Watford
-Watford is a 6-foot-9 athletic forward who can play above the rim and stretch the floor with his jump shot
How the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff can help these players reach their potential
In order for Alabama to maintain its dominance in the SEC, the Coaching Staff will need to help these players reach their potential. Here are some of the top transfer targets for the Crimson Tide
Jalen Johnson- A 6’9″ forward from Duke, Johnson is a five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 5 player in the class of 2020 by ESPN. He averaged 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Tony Bradley- A 6’10” center from North Carolina Bradley was a five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 8 player in the class of 2016 by ESPN. He averaged 7.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Tyrese Maxey- A 6’3″ guard from Kentucky, Maxey was a five-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 9 player in the class of 2019 by ESPN. He averaged 10 points per game as a freshman.
What kind of impact each of these players could have on the program
In recent years the Alabama Basketball Program has been one of the most successful in the country. They have won multiple SEC Championships and made deep runs in the NCAA tournament However, they have not been able to win a National Championship
One of the biggest reasons for their success has been their ability to attract top transfer talent. Players like Collin Sexton Donta Hall, and Herostatic have all transferred to Alabama and made an immediate impact.
Here are some of the top transfer targets for Alabama this offseason:
1) James Wiseman 7’1″ center from Memphis. Wiseman is one of the most dominant big men in college basketball He would give Alabama a much needed boost in the post.
2) Devon Dotson- 6’2″ guard from Kansas. Dotson is a dynamic guard who can score and distribute the ball. He would be a perfect complement to Collin Sexton in the backcourt.
3) Nico Mannion- 6’3″ guard from Arizona. Mannion is a polished scorer who can get buckets from anywhere on the court. He would give Alabama another dangerous weapon on offense.
4) RJ Hampton- 6’5″ guard from New Zealand (Currently playing in Australia). Hampton is an elite athlete with a ton of potential. He is raw but has all the tools to be a star at the next level.
5) Trayce Jackson-Davis 6’9″ forward from Indiana. Jackson-Davis is a versatile forward who can score inside and out. He would give Alabama another option on offense and provides good size and strength on defense.
Why each of these players would be a good fit for Alabama’s style of play
Alabama is known for its tough, physical style of play. The Crimson Tide are always looking for players who fit that mold and can come in and make an immediate impact.
That’s why players like James Wiseman, Lamelo Ball and Cole Anthony would be great fits for Alabama. All three of them are physical specimens who can dominate on both ends of the floor.
Wiseman is the consensus top player in the class of 2020 and would give Alabama an instant boost in the frontcourt. He’s a true big man with a 7-foot-3 frame and a 7-foot-6 wingspan. He’s an elite shot blocker and rebounder, and he has the potential to develop into a go-to scorer on offense.
Ball is the best point guard in the class of 2020. He’s a 6-foot-7 playmaker with fantastic vision and passing ability. He’s also a terrific scorer, averaging 21 points per game on 52 percent shooting from the field this season. Ball would be an instant difference-maker for Alabama on both ends of the floor.
Anthony is one of the best scorers in the country, averaging 21 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field this season. He’s also a very good rebounder for his position, averaging nearly seven rebounds per game. Anthony would give Alabama another scoring threat to go along with Wiseman and Ball.
How each of these players could help Alabama compete for a national championship
The Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team is coming off a historic season in which they won the program’s first ever National Championship head coach Nate Oats led the team to a 26-7 record, including an impressive 16-2 mark in SEC play. The Tide lost to UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament but that does not take away from the great season they had.
Now, with the 2020-2021 Season rapidly approaching, Alabama is looking to build on that success and compete for a National Championship once again. The team will have to do so without star point guard Kira Lewis Jr., who decided to declare for the NBA Draft after just two seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Lewis was a big part of Alabama’s success last season, averaging 18.5 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from three-point range His departure leaves a big hole in the Alabama lineup, but Oats and company are already hard at work trying to fill it.
The Crimson Tide have been linked to several transfer targets who could come in and make an immediate impact. Below is a look at some of the players Alabama is targeting and how each of them could help the team compete for a National Championship next season.
Davion Mitchell – Baylor Bears
The first name on Alabama’s list is Davion Mitchell, who just so happens to be one of the best players in the country. Mitchell averaged 12 points, 4 assists and 2 steals per game last season as a key member of Baylor’s National Championship team. He would be an immediate starter for Alabama and would give them another much-needed ball handler and playmaker alongside John Petty Jr.
Mitchell is originally from Hazel Green Alabama, so there is definitely some home state appeal there for him. He will have no shortage of suitors when he decides to transfer, but Alabama will be right near the top of his list.
Jordan Bowden – Tennessee Volunteers
Bowden is another player who would come into Alabama and immediately start at guard alongside John Petty Jr. He averaged 11 points per game last season as Tennessee’s sixth man and would give Alabama another scoring punch off the bench. Bowden shot 37 percent from three-point range last season and 84 percent from the Free Throw Line so he would also provide some much-needed outside shooting for the Crimson Tide
Bowden is from Knoxville, Tennessee, so there is definitely some appeal for him to stay close to home if he decides to transfer. However, he has also been linked to Virginia Tech and LSU, so Alabama will have some competition if they want to land his services.
James Wiseman – Memphis Tigers
Wiseman is arguably the best player in the country and someone who could come in and make an immediate impact for any team he joins next season. The 7-footer averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks per game last season as Memphis’ starting center before leaving school amid NCAA eligibility concerns. He has not yet announced where he will play next season, but there has been speculation that he could join fellow Memphis Tiger James Wiseman on Kentucky’s roster next season
What kind of impact each of these players could have on the recruiting trail
Since the start of the early Signing Period Alabama has seen four players enter the transfer portal Below is a list of each player and what kind of impact they could have on the recruiting trail
1. Josh Primo – The 6-foot-6 guard from Canada was one of the top shooting prospects in the 2020 class. He was a four-star recruit and ranked in the top 50 nationally. Primo will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be immediately eligible to play next season. He’s already drawn interest from a number of schools, including Kentucky, LSU, and Oregon.
2. James Rojas – The 6-foot-9 forward from Los Angeles was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class. Rojas will have three years of eligibility remaining and will be eligible to play immediately next season. He’s already drawn interest from a number of schools, including UCLA, USC, and Oregon State
3.Jaylon Tyson – The 6-foot-7 forward from Mississippi was a four-star recruit in the 2020 class. Tyson will have three years of eligibility remaining and will be eligible to play immediately next season. He’s already drawn interest from a number of schools, including Kentucky, LSU, and Missouri.
4. Kennedy Chandler – The 6-foot point guard from Tennessee was a five-star recruit in the 2020 class. Chandler will have three years of eligibility remaining and will be eligible to play immediately next season. He’s already drawn interest from a number of schools, including Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina
Why each of these players would be a good fit for Alabama’s campus and community
In the last few weeks, rumors have been swirling about potential transfers to the University of Alabama Basketball team Here are a few of the players that have been linked to the Crimson Tide
Isaiah Jackson is a 6’9″ forward from Detroit, Michigan. He originally signed with Kentucky, but decided to transfer after one season. He would be a good fit for Alabama because of his size and defensive prowess. He would also add some much-needed frontcourt depth for the Tide.
Jaden Shackelford is a 6’3″ guard from Hesperia, California. He originally signed with UC Santa Barbara but decided to transfer after one season. He would be a good fit for Alabama because of his shooting ability and scoring ability. He would also provide some much-needed backcourt depth for the Tide.
Diante Smith is a 6’8″ forward from Chicago, Illinois. He originally signed with Bradley, but decided to transfer after one season. He would be a good fit for Alabama because of his size and athleticism. He would also add some much-needed frontcourt depth for the Tide.