Published May 24, 2024
Nate Oats discusses Alabama basketball's five offseason additions
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Jack Knowlton  •  TideIllustrated
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Alabama basketball has had one of its strongest and most productive offseasons, reloading its roster following its historic run to the Final Four.

The Crimson Tide brought in four key players from the transfer portal in guards Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), Chris Youngblood (South Florida) and Aden Holloway (Auburn) as well as Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi, who adds key reinforcement in the paint. Alabama coach Nate Oats also added another member to its No. 2 ranked 2024 recruiting class, four-star guard Labaron Philon.

On Friday, Alabama made those five signings official. Here's a look at who the Tide is getting in their latest offseason additions.

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Aden Holloway | So. | G | 6-1 | 178 | Charlotte, N.C. (Auburn/Prolific Prep)

A 2024 SEC All-Freshman Team selection

Played in all 35 games including 26 starts as a freshman last season

Averaged 7.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game

Made 52 three-pointers, which ranked No. 9 for most three-pointers made by a freshman in Auburn history

Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11Scored a season-high 24 points on Dec. 9 vs. Indiana

A 2023 McDonald’s High School All-American

A five-star recruit, Holloway was ranked as the No. 33 overall player and No. 6 point guard prospect by Rivals

Quote from Oats: “Coming out of high school as a McDonald’s All-American, Aden was one of the best shooting point guards in the country, all throughout his high school career. He has the ability to shoot it from deep, while being able to get into the paint and make plays. Defensively he can guard and keep people in front of him. He has a very special brand of skill, talent and hard work.”

Houston Mallette | Sr. | G | 6-5 | 185 | Alameda, Calif. (Pepperdine/Pacifica Christian High School)

Named to the 2024 All-WCC Honorable Mention squad

Named to the 2022 All-WCC Freshman Team

Scored 1,295 career points in his three seasons at Pepperdine

Played in 94 games including 90 starts for the Waves

Scored double figures in 61 collegiate games, including 22 times during his junior campaign

Scored a career-high 31 points on Nov. 22 vs. Indiana State

Ranked No. 5 in the WCC in scoring (14.7 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (42.0) in 2024

Quote from Oats: “Houston is such a versatile guard with length and has unique play making skills. He can guard one through four and is a knock down shooter. He can make the open shots, get his teammates involved being a combo guard and make a multitude of plays due to his IQ on the court. Like all of our signees, he has a great team-first mindset and will be a great two-way player.”

Clifford Omoruyi | Gr. | C | 6-11 | 240 | Benin City, Nigeria | Rutgers/Roselle Catholic

A three-time All-Big Ten honoree (2022-24) including twice earning First Team All-Defense (2023-24)

A finalist for the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation’s top center

Became the first Rutgers player to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots since Keith Hughes did so in the 1990-1991 season (10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.9 bpg)

Ranks fourth all-time in Rutgers program history in career field goal percentage (.549) and rebounds (933) and sixth in blocks (221)Recorded 93 blocks in 2024, which ranked sixth for most by a Rutgers player in a single season and the most by a Big ten player since 2018

Scored 1,251 points throughout his career at Rutgers

Was the first Big Ten first player to record at least nine rebounds, eight blocks and seven points in a Big Ten game since Penn State's Mike Watkins in 2017

Quote from Oats: “Cliff has arguably been one of the best shot blockers in the country and in the Big Ten over the last 25 years. He is a guy that will anchor our defense and has a great offensive skillset that we will be able to showcase. He is an exceptional athlete with a 7’6 wingspan and overall an elite athlete that will be a great addition to our team.”

Labaron Philon | Fr. | G | 6-4 | 177 | Mobile, Ala. (Link Academy)

Ranked as the No. 37 overall player and No. 6 point guard by Rivals

Finished his high school career at Link Academy in Missouri

Originally from Mobile, Ala., Philon was named Mr. Basketball while at Baker High School

In his final season at Baker, Philon averaged 35.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game in 2022-23.

A two-time Class 7A Player of the Year, Philon scored 2,334 points in his three seasons at Baker

Was AAU teammates with fellow Crimson Tide freshman Derrion Reid for Team Thad in 2023

Averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists on the Nike EYBL Circuit for Team Thad

Quote from Oats: “Labaron is an explosive combo guard that is dynamic in the open floor and can play above the rim. He shot over 40 percent from three in his high school career and is a tenacious competitor and we are excited to him have in our program.”

Chris Youngblood | Gr. | G | 6-4 | 218 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. (South Florida/Kennesaw State/East Coweta High School)

Named American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year last season, becoming South Florida’s first Player of the year since 1983 (Charlie Bradley)

Led South Florida to its first-ever regular season conference title with a 25-8 overall record and a 16-2 record in the AAC

Played in all 33 games for USF including 32 starts averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contestShot 41.6 percent from three-point range and 45.8 percent from the field

Scored double-figures in 27 games including eight games scoring 20 points or more

Scored a season-high 29 points on March 5 vs. Tulane

Scored 1,227 points in three seasons at Kennesaw State (2021-23)

Was a First Team All-ASUN selection and NABC First Team All-District 3 honoree in 2023

Led Kennesaw State to the 2023 NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history

In his final season at Kennesaw State Youngblood averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game

A 2021 ASUN All-Freshman Team selection

Quote from Oats: “Chris is a proven winner who was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year who is a knock down shooter and an unbelievable shooter of the catch. He is an exceptional downhill driver who can make explosive plays at the rim and is a relentless worker.”