Alabama freshman phenom projected to be first-round selection in 2025 NBA draft

Alabama’s Derrion Reid is yet to play a game of college basketball, yet he is still widely regarded as a first-round NBA draft talent

The start of the 2024 college basketball season is just 13 days away for the Alabama Crimson Tide as UNC Asheville comes to town to tip-off the season. With nine teams ranked in the AP Top 25, the SEC is going to be an absolute gauntlet this year, especially for the No. 2 ranked team Crimson Tide who enters the year with a target on their back.

The Crimson Tide will be led by some familiar faces like Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, but one name that Alabama fans will need to get to know fast is Derrion Reid. The former five-star recruit was the No. 17 ranked player in the 2024 recruiting class and has the talent to be a one-and-done kind of guy.

Over the summer, Reid earned a gold medal with the 2024 USA Men’s U18 National Team at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup. During his time with Team USA, he averaged 10.3 ppg and 7.7 rpg in 16.5 mpg.

Even though he hasn’t played a minute of collegiate basketball yet, HoopsHype projects Reid to be the No. 24 overall prospect in the 2025 NBA draft saying of the freshman phenom,

“Reid has a strong offensive skill set, capable of scoring from three levels, creating his own shot, and rebounding well. Has to improve defensive awareness, and consistency, and avoid fouling. Strengths: Excellent offensive player with a diverse skill set, capable of scoring from mid-range and three-point range, effective in isolation, able to create his own shot, and strong rebounder on both ends. Weaknesses: Needs to improve defensive awareness and effort, inconsistent as an on-ball defender, struggles with foul trouble.”

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