What does CNO do with the portal this year???

[BamaMoon]

Honestly I don't want Holloway back. I don't want to hear about his past every time we play. Plus, I would not want to comprise integrity for wins.

He shot 45% from 3, IIRC. That's amazing.

However, he's a liability on defense.

I can see it going both ways, although, CNO says he wants to support him.

 

[BamaMoon]

I saw a list of the 10 highest paid players on X and Philon was #10 at 1.7 mill NIL.

If this is correct, we made a very good assessment of his abilities.

However, I don't know what we paid for Williamson, Bol Bowen, Bethea, & Bristow (who was injured most of the year), but I read a while back that we only got 6 points per game from those 4 players and I imagine 5 of those points came from Bol Bowen.

 

[dayhiker]

Probably controversial take, but if Holloway can come back, he's a workable PG, but he's better at the 2.

I'd challenge Amari Allen to play PG next year, which he can do!

The shortest starter we'd have would probably be a 6'6" guard other than Holloway (again, if he can return).

Allen is a first round pick on several of the current mock drafts.

 

[BamaMoon]

Allen is a first round pick on several of the current mock drafts.

I really hope he follows Philon's path and comes back to make even more after year 2!

He's got some very diverse skills, and if he played PG more this year, he could be similar in build and shooting skills to what Irvin Johnson was. Probably not the passer he was in college just yet, but you can see the similarities.

 

[dayhiker]

I really hope he follows Philon's path and comes back to make even more after year 2!

He's got some very diverse skills, and if he played PG more this year, he could be similar in build and shooting skills to what Irvin Johnson was. Probably not the passer he was in college just yet, but you can see the similarities.

I found an article saying that he plans to come back, unless his agent starts pushing NBA.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

FYI, portal opens April 7th

 

[Coach D]

He shot 45% from 3, IIRC. That's amazing.

However, he's a liability on defense.

I can see it going both ways, although, CNO says he wants to support him.

He’s a liability more than on defense. lol

Think CNO will help support him however he can but that doesn’t mean keeping. Personally only way I think we should keep him is if everything gets dropped or just a minor possession charge. Anything more no, also depends if the University lets him back in as well.

 

[Coach D]

Allen is a first round pick on several of the current mock drafts.

I don’t see how he played well enough for a full year to be more than late first but most likely second round at best.

 

[cdub55]

This is going to be a fun thread to follow.

I've seen several places where Bethea is part of the answer but I haven't seen anything at all from him. What's the story on him?

We really whiffed on the portal last year. We took chances on affordable guys that didn't pan out.

We need to take a hard look at how we are evaluating these portal guys from both a talent and health standpoint.

Not a knock on the following guys but I would trade Bol Bowen, Williamson, Bristow, and Bethea for Lendeborg. Give me a no doubter impact player over a few pieces that can help. Oats said it himself, Lendeborg was the best player in the portal last year and he wanted to come to Alabama.

 

[dayhiker]

Not a knock on the following guys but I would trade Bol Bowen, Williamson, Bristow, and Bethea for Lendeborg. Give me a no doubter impact player over a few pieces that can help. Oats said it himself, Lendeborg was the best player in the portal last year and he wanted to come to Alabama.

I believe he also hinted that we couldn't afford him. That clip sounded to me like he chose to focus players he felt he had a legitimate shot at getting. It feels like none of the portal players played out as anticipated yet we still won 25 games and made the S16. This may have actually been one of his better coaching jobs.

 

[BamaMoon]

Not a knock on the following guys but I would trade Bol Bowen, Williamson, Bristow, and Bethea for Lendeborg. Give me a no doubter impact player over a few pieces that can help. Oats said it himself, Lendeborg was the best player in the portal last year and he wanted to come to Alabama.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but yes, we might still be playing with him on our roster!

I believe he also hinted that we couldn't afford him. That clip sounded to me like he chose to focus players he felt he had a legitimate shot at getting. It feels like none of the portal players played out as anticipated yet we still won 25 games and made the S16. This may have actually been one of his better coaching jobs.

That's the kicker. If he wanted us and we wanted him, but UM could pay him over 2 million...he didn't want us.

 

[CajunCrimson]

My gut?

1.) Holloway 90%
2.) Sherrell 90%
3.) Allen 80%

4, 5, 6) The three freshmen

Maybe: (65/35)
7.) Bol Bowen
8.) Hannah

Possibly:
9.) Jemison (50/50)

And that’s it. All else are new.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Guys I think that are definite returnees: Allen, Jemison, Sherrill

Guys that I think are definitely gone: Bristow, Hannah plus Mallette, Philon, Williamson, Wrightsell

Guys that I think are in between: Bethea, Bol Bowen, Collins, Holloway

Of the guys in the last list, I think BB and Collins could end up helping us in the paint - with BB doing that IF he has a strong offseason in the weight room. Bethea has potential but has to commit to being an all-around player while Holloway may bring more baggage than Oats prefers.

That's six definite spots IMO and possibly as many as eight. Ball handlers and bigs look to be the biggest areas we've got to target.

I think He stays.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

I can't point to a paid site. I can't mention a specific site... But This information is easily searchable. IT has to do with the state of were we live in and then add .com


Quick Summary:
2025-2026 Basketball roster budget was 8 million dollar. The budget for next year supposedly increased from 8 million to 12 million dollar. That's the average going rate for most teams these days. Nat Oats is real good at making money stretch, so I think he can build a deep roster with 12 million dollar. IMO, It's doable.

Alabama had 13 players on scholarship this year with 10 available for the most of the season. Think about that. That's wild. Out of those 10, three will not return because their eligibility expired: Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Houston Mallette and Noah Williamson.


So that leaves seven roster players left:

Labaron Philon- He played well this year. First round pick.
Amari Allen- Another one who could leave early, but I think He would be better off getting feedback at NBA combine and come back to improve his game. Alabama can point to Philon and see what he did.
Aiden Sherrell- He seem to want to come back to Alabama and Coaches want him back too. Things look to trend in positive direction.
Aden Hollway- Before his arrest, He was likely to leave to cash in money by through transfer. He could've made more money since he averaged 16 points per game. Alabama is willing to take him back if things work out for both sides. he would be better off staying another year and improve his character.

on Bristow, I don't think he leave. Just g gut feeling
Transfer portal:
Louisville guard Adrian Wooley
NC State guard Matt Able.


If Alabama is getting big men, expect them to spend 3-4 million per player.

 

[Coach D]

Hindsight is always 20/20 but yes, we might still be playing with him on our roster!

That's the kicker. If he wanted us and we wanted him, but UM could pay him over 2 million...he didn't want us.

CNO never actually got to contact him, he heard numbers he was getting offered and backed away. He should have at least talked to the kid to see if he would have come for less. Just a bad portal year for coach and lessons learned.

 

[Coach D]

I think He stays.

Just curious as why?

 

[Coach D]

My gut?

1.) Holloway 90%
2.) Sherrell 90%
3.) Allen 80%

4, 5, 6) The three freshmen

Maybe: (65/35)
7.) Bol Bowen
8.) Hannah

Possibly:
9.) Jemison (50/50)

And that’s it. All else are new.

Why do you have Jemison so low? Surprised at Bowen confidence too, just didn’t do great at any one thing, like a slightly weaker Stevenson. Injury prone too.

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

I'd also love to see Allen play the point more next year and think he will need that experience if he wants to start one day in the NBA.

We have got to get big men who can defend and produce. Even if all they can do is distribute a little on offense and run to the rim. We need to improve on that horrendous 343rd in points in paint allowed.

If Jemison could put on some pounds he would be nice in between guard/ forward type. He seems like he has a lot of upside and really improved by the end of the year. I'd like to see him be one of our Mallette/ Herb type players. He has all the physical gifts. So does Bol Bowen AND Bristow for that matter.

 

[BamaMoon]

Just curious as why?

In the 5 games Bristow played, he was thought to be one of our better players. Then he got injured.

I have no idea where his "mind" is, but when healthy, he's the type of player that could help us.

 

[BamaMoon]

CNO never actually got to contact him, he heard numbers he was getting offered and backed away. He should have at least talked to the kid to see if he would have come for less. Just a bad portal year for coach and lessons learned.

I think Dusti May has been on record to say Bama did contact him.