Alabama Basketball Roster Tracker 2026-2027

[dayhiker]

Teams don't frequently pressure us because if we break it, we get WIDE open 3s.

We do. But if we don't have adequate ball handlers they get layups from stealing it from us. A&M did that from time to time and we had multiple ball handlers. Heck, Sherrell broke many traps last year because the other teams weren't setup to pressure the 5. I guess he'll be doing that for Indiana next year.

 

[Joefus]

I think Holloway’s only chance of making noise in nexts years draft is moving to the 1 and excelling at it. I hope he does. I hope we aren’t done but I trust oats

 

[Bpilktree]

Teams don't frequently pressure us because if we break it, we get WIDE open 3s.

Which brings me to another point. This team doesn’t look like it has the same caliber shooters in the past especially veteran type guys. We have some freshman and inexperienced guys but not lot of proven shooters especially the bigs.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

We do. But if we don't have adequate ball handlers they get layups from stealing it from us. A&M did that from time to time and we had multiple ball handlers. Heck, Sherrell broke many traps last year because the other teams weren't setup to pressure the 5. I guess he'll be doing that for Indiana next year.

A&M does that to everybody. Full court press is a big part of Bucky Ball.

 

[Bpilktree]

I can see where y'all coming from with this, but I think everyone probably gonna need to step outside the box for a minute. If you get a chance, go check out Duke's roster. Nobody is below 6"4" and they have a guard who's 6"8" who plays guard.
UConn and Duke .. whole different team ... Both style works .. I think Samuel will play 2/3 spot often but sometime get a chance to get ball up court. Everyone's so focused on traditional offense and what's required to run plays and etc. I just feel like Oats gonna get creative. I don't think we should worry just yet.

Duke has big guards though not small forwards that they pushed into a guard position. Boozer is 6’4 but he is a prototypical point guard that has always played that. Evans is 6’6 but he was recruited as a pure shooter.(from around here was one of best pure shooters I saw). Foster is 6’5 also from Charlotte area and recruited as a combo guard that pretty much ran the offense in high school. Last year they also had Procter who was a 6”4 guard but always was a guard.
This year we had Philon who is 6’4 but he was always a guard coming up so his size wasn’t issue. Right now I see one actual guard that is used to running an offense and guy you want facing pressure.(sorry Murphy shouldn’t get a lot of playing time so I don’t count him). Then there is some forwards that can bring up the ball but never really ran an offense.

 

[dayhiker]

A&M does that to everybody. Full court press is a big part of Bucky Ball.

They do. It was just an example. If we don't have more ball handlers, many more will do it to us too.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

I'm sure whatever our concerns may be, Coach has most likely thought of it and then some. If they like what we have coming in enough to have this be it, then so do I. The Samuels kid is probably gonna be a day 1 impact player,, I think Bouie's potential Is sky high, as well. Richardson is a little different type of player than we're used to, but he might be the best in the entire class at getting to the rim. Let's get him into the gym and have him shoot 1000 3 pt shots all summer, and see if he can develop a 3 point shot. It's definitely in his genes because Jason was lethal from 3, although I don't think he was always that way. I think he had to work on it too, and eventually became one of the best 3 point shooters in the NBA.

 

[BamaMoon]

Which brings me to another point. This team doesn’t look like it has the same caliber shooters in the past especially veteran type guys. We have some freshman and inexperienced guys but not lot of proven shooters especially the bigs.

Guaranteed returning scorers...no. But there's growing belief that Hollaway's legal problems will be resolved and if they are, CNO is on record that he plans to support him. I can't imagine how that doesn't equal welcoming him back to the team (but I'd have him drug tested randomly throughout the season!). I also think they have some optimism that Allen will follow Philon's pattern of returning and improving his skills to get bigger NBA money in year two! Allen seems well grounded too, which might help that come true too!

But, we might as well get used to a problem like this. Obviously, we'll missed a 20 point scorer like Philon. But even if we don't get back AA and AH, we are bringing in some players who look like budding offensive stars and very good scorers. Just between Fielder and Cloer, I think they both can be double-digit scorers for us, maybe as a tandem averaging 25-30 ppg. I'm also in the camp that all three freshmen play and contribute. Between Richardson, Bouie and Samuels I wouldn't be shocked if a couple of them became consistent scorers!

But, let's suppose CNO is after more defense this year and it impacts us offensively, is there a coach in America you'd rather have to figure out how to get more points???

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

But, let's suppose CNO is after more defense this year and it impacts us offensively, is there a coach in America you'd rather have to figure out how to get more points???

I think I would rather us score around 80-85 points a game if we up the defense significantly. We see how Michigan blew people out, they didn't have to score nearly as much.

 

[Coach D]

Think the point about the current roster skepticism from some is like last year the team is based on potential. Some of us were talking pre season last year that it was the most unknown team because it was only a few players that had proven anything and portal players were not proven and heavy on potential. Ended up being very lucky Philon came back as all the transfers didn’t excel or even do well. Freshman did well yes, but you’re not winning a chip with a core of freshman. Which leads to this year, we lost a lot of players. Bringing in guys that we needed inside but no proven high caliber guys other than Fielder who I don’t think can carry a team every game. CNO had to have one of his best coaching years to cover for failed portal class last year and I think everyone is hoping that this class would be better overall. Not sure it is at this point and no one should want to rely on freshman potential.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I think I would rather us score around 80-85 points a game if we up the defense significantly. We see how Michigan blew people out, they didn't have to score nearly as much.

Nah, let's score 180 and play defense. So we could be 90's UNLV/Loyola Marymount on offense and 90's Princeton on defense.

 

[BAMARICH]

Think the point about the current roster skepticism from some is like last year the team is based on potential. Some of us were talking pre season last year that it was the most unknown team because it was only a few players that had proven anything and portal players were not proven and heavy on potential. Ended up being very lucky Philon came back as all the transfers didn’t excel or even do well. Freshman did well yes, but you’re not winning a chip with a core of freshman. Which leads to this year, we lost a lot of players. Bringing in guys that we needed inside but no proven high caliber guys other than Fielder who I don’t think can carry a team every game. CNO had to have one of his best coaching years to cover for failed portal class last year and I think everyone is hoping that this class would be better overall. Not sure it is at this point and no one should want to rely on freshman potential.

Last year for the first time in CNO's tenure, our transfer players were largely unproven. Obvious they had potential, but unproven and it concerned me that we had changed approaches. It appears we're going that route again, but then again CNO targeted bigger guys on the whole this time around. On another side of the coin last year, only two of our incoming four HS recruits contributed to the team.

This year, any way we cut it, we'll be young. For all practical purposes we have 4 HS recruits again because Cloer was an early entry and didn't play at NCSU. In addition, we have less proven talent returning this year than last. However, the rating of this HS class vs. last year isn't close. IF Cloer was included in this class, we'd have four HS recruits in the top 40 and would be in the top 7 nationally. The last time we came close to doing that was in 2024 - the class with Sherrill, Philon, and Reid.

Overall, this is what CNO seems to be doing (obvious small sample size). He's no longer recruiting bigs out of HS. Instead, he's getting bigs through the portal - they're more "ready to play" in the SEC. Instead of getting "one of everything" across positions, he's playing a lottery with his HS recruiting. He's brought in 4 HS guys (including Cloer) who are 6'5" to 6'7" SG/SF types and betting that among them at least two will play like Allen did last year. IF you look at our expected output on the court this fall, I think you could predict this modest type of outcome:
* Allen (SG/SF) - excellent
* Jemison (SF/PF) - above average
* Bristow (PF) - average to above average
* Holloway - above average to excellent
* Fielder (PF-C) - average to above average
* Davis-Fleming (PF-C) - average
* Garrison (PF-C) - average
* Collins - no idea
* Two of Bouie/Cloer/Richardson/Samuels - above average

IF more than two of the incoming freshman step forward, we could be special. IF one of them blows up and becomes like Allen this year, we could be special. IF one of the Davis-Fleming/Garrison/Collins step up to "above average", we could be special. IF Jemison steps up to "excellent" we could be special. Compared to last offseason, I like what we have far more - particularly because we have volume now at the PF/C and SF/SG positions and can better weather injuries or a bust with one or two guys. It's definitely a change from CNO's previous groups - hopefully it works out like planned. RTR!

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Last year for the first time in CNO's tenure, our transfer players were largely unproven. Obvious they had potential, but unproven and it concerned me that we had changed approaches. It appears we're going that route again, but then again CNO targeted bigger guys on the whole this time around. On another side of the coin last year, only two of our incoming four HS recruits contributed to the team.

This year, any way we cut it, we'll be young. For all practical purposes we have 4 HS recruits again because Cloer was an early entry and didn't play at NCSU. In addition, we have less proven talent returning this year than last. However, the rating of this HS class vs. last year isn't close. IF Cloer was included in this class, we'd have four HS recruits in the top 40 and would be in the top 7 nationally. The last time we came close to doing that was in 2024 - the class with Sherrill, Philon, and Reid.

Overall, this is what CNO seems to be doing (obvious small sample size). He's no longer recruiting bigs out of HS. Instead, he's getting bigs through the portal - they're more "ready to play" in the SEC. Instead of getting "one of everything" across positions, he's playing a lottery with his HS recruiting. He's brought in 4 HS guys (including Cloer) who are 6'5" to 6'7" SG/SF types and betting that among them at least two will play like Allen did last year. IF you look at our expected output on the court this fall, I think you could predict this modest type of outcome:
* Allen (SG/SF) - excellent
* Jemison (SF/PF) - above average
* Bristow (PF) - average to above average
* Holloway - above average to excellent
* Fielder (PF-C) - average to above average
* Davis-Fleming (PF-C) - average
* Garrison (PF-C) - average
* Collins - no idea
* Two of Bouie/Cloer/Richardson/Samuels - above average

IF more than two of the incoming freshman step forward, we could be special. IF one of them blows up and becomes like Allen this year, we could be special. IF one of the Davis-Fleming/Garrison/Collins step up to "above average", we could be special. IF Jemison steps up to "excellent" we could be special. Compared to last offseason, I like what we have far more - particularly because we have volume now at the PF/C and SF/SG positions and can better weather injuries or a bust with one or two guys. It's definitely a change from CNO's previous groups - hopefully it works out like planned. RTR!

Really well put, Rich. But one red elephant remains in the room: :We need at least one more guard.

 

[TiderJack]

I think I would rather us score around 80-85 points a game if we up the defense significantly. We see how Michigan blew people out, they didn't have to score nearly as much.

I would like that also. CNO's best team in 2022-2023 with Miller and Clowney averaged 81 pts/game and gave up 68 pts/game.

 

[TiderJack]

Here is another possible addition.

Alabama basketball is reportedly in contact with a familiar St. John's transfer

If you follow the Transfer Portal religiously (would not recommend), then you are probably familiar with the same Joson Sanon. Sanon was one of the early names

bamahammer.com

 

[AlexanderFan]

Got to have guys comfortable with the ball in their hand, with tempo and creating their own shot, or we will look like early Oats teams; flying into the lane with no shot and nowhere to go with the ball and turning it over at an unacceptable rate.

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

Bol Bowen to Oregon was not what I was expecting.

 

[BAMARICH]

Really well put, Rich. But one red elephant remains in the room: :We need at least one more guard.

I agree 100%. I'm guessing there's a plan in place for that.

 

[cdub55]

Really well put, Rich. But one red elephant remains in the room: :We need at least one more guard.

Not to sound condescending but if we can recognize that you can rest assured that CNO knows that. We may not get exactly what we want from the portal/recruiting but you can believe that the roster will be constructed where players are in place that can execute the offensive and defensive assignments.

 

[dayhiker]

Not to sound condescending but if we can recognize that you can rest assured that CNO knows that. We may not get exactly what we want from the portal/recruiting but you can believe that the roster will be constructed where players are in place that can execute the offensive and defensive assignments.

Well if we can't discuss it because the staff already knows it then what's the point of the message board?