If there is one position that the Alabama Crimson Tide needed to add to the roster during the 2024 college basketball offseason, it was an elite defender in the frontcourt who could protect the rim.
Well, that is exactly what Nate Oats and Co. did, as the Crimson Tide landed a massive addition through the transfer portal in Rutgers frontcourt standout Clifford Omoruyi.
According to college basketball analyst Andy Katz as well, it’s clear that the Crimson Tide landed a real difference maker, in particular on defense where he ranks Omoruyi as the No. 2 defender in the nation entering the 2024-25 season.
On the list, Omoruyi sits behind only Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, and is also one spot ahead of Auburn Tigers center Johni Broome.
Coming to Alabama after four seasons at Rutgers, Omoruyi is two-time Big Ten All-Defense selection that has averaged a combined 10.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 1.8 BPG across 121 games during his collegiate career. Omoruyi is also coming off a 2023-24 season in which he led the Big Ten with 2.9 BPG, as well as making Big Ten All-Defense for the second-straight year.
The experienced transfer should be a true difference maker for the Crimson Tide this season.