Tag: Power forward

Alabama MBB offers 2024 PF Nicolas Codie

2024 power forward Nicolas Codie is the latest prospect to have received an offer from the Alabama coaching staff. Codie plays for Newnan Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas.

Power forward Nicolas Codie of the 2024 class received an offer from the Alabama coaching staff on Friday.

Codie plays for Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas. At 6-foot-8, 180 pounds, Codie can play multiple positions on the floor. Alabama head coach Nate Oats likes versatile players that can shoot and defend at a high level. Codie certainly fits that profile.

Codie took an official visit to TCU on June 1 and Houston on June 16. He is also scheduled to return to TCU for an official visit on Sep 1. Other schools that will host Codie are Virginia Tech (Sep. 8), Texas Tech (Sep. 15), and LSU (Sep. 22).

While Codie has not scheduled an official visit to Alabama, the likelihood of him making a trip to Tuscaloosa is pretty high.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Nicolas Codie’s recruiting profile.

2024 5-Star PF Jarin Stevenson lists Alabama in top 3

2024 power forward Jarin Stevenson released his top-three schools on Friday. The South Carolina native is down to Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Jarin Stevenson released his top-three schools on Friday. Stevenson’s finalists are Alabama, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Stevenson has taken official visits to all three schools. The South Carolina native took an official visit to Alabama in May.

When asked by 247Sports’ Travis Burnham on how he feels about the Crimson Tide, he said, “I like Alabama’s play style. They have an NBA offense and they also have a good defense, too. Coach [Nate] Oats is pretty cool,,, they’re great people.”

A decision is expected to come over the weekend. He is also considering re-classifying to the 2023 recruiting class. Meaning he will have enough credits to graduate high school and join the basketball program of his choice in the fall.

According to Rivals’ David Sisk, the likelihood that Alabama lands Stevenson’s commitment is high if he does decide to re-classify. If he elects to remain a 2024 recruit, the favorites will likely be North Carolina or Virginia.

Stevenson’s decision is crucial for the Crimson Tide. North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson was suppoosed to announce his commitment at the beginning of the week. However, he has not officially committed to Alabama at this point. If Nate Oats and the rest of the coaching staff can land both Nelson and Stevenson, next year’s team has the potential to be a top-10 team.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Jarin Stevenson’s recruiting profile.

North Dakota State MBB transfer Grant Nelson expected to commit to Alabama

North Dakota State power forward transfer Grant Nelson is expected to land with Alabama, per Joe Tipton of On3.

The Alabama basketball team received a huge boost as North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson is expected to announce that he will be committing to the Crimson Tide over Arkansas. Nelson took official visits to both Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville before making his decision.

Nelson spent three seasons playing for the Bison. As a freshman, Nelson played in 27 games while making five starts. He averaged 6.3 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game.

During his sophomore season, Nelson averaged 11.6 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game. He started in 21 of the 29 games that he played in.

As a junior, Nelson increased his NBA draft stock after averaging 17.9 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, and 1.7 blocks per game.

Following the season, Nelson declared for the 2023 NBA Draft while also entering the transfer portal. After receiving feedback, Nelson elected to forgo the draft and explore his options in the transfer portal.

His expected commitment to the Crimson Tide means a great deal given the fact that two of Alabama’s starters in the front court are leaving in Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako. Interestingly enough, Nelson’s style of play is eerily similar to that of Clowney.

Nelson can play any position on the floor as could Clowney. Nelson stands at 6-foot-11, 235 pounds. Nelson can also protect the rim, rebound, and has proven to shoot fairly well from distance.

The expectation is that Nelson be a day-one starter at either power forward or center next season. His size and ability should make him one of the best frontcourt players in the SEC if not the entire country next season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama basketball program and its involvement in the transfer portal.

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No. 1 transfer portal PF scheduled to visit with Alabama MBB

Grant Nelson, the top player in the NCAA transfer portal plans to visit with Nate Oats and the Tide!

Yesterday, North Dakota State’s power forward Grant Nelson withdrew his name from the NBA draft. However, he did enter the transfer portal at the beginning of May and will continue to look at his transfer options ahead of the 2023-2024 season.

Nelson is the top-ranked player in the portal and has no shortage of suitors. He was a first-team All-Summit selection this past season while averaging 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.

With the loss of Charles Bediako, Nelson would be the perfect player to fill in that missing role for the Crimson Tide. He already spent three years with the Bison, so he is entering the fourth year of eligibility and at 6’11, Nelson could play either the four or five as Alabama does lack front-court depth.

Fortunately, for Alabama fans, Nelson already plans to meet with Nate Oats and visit Alabama. The actual visit date has yet to be determined. Once a recruit gets onto campus and sees the freedom they will have in a Nate Oats system, it is hard to turn down the Tide.

Hank South of 247Sports first reported the news Nelson planning a visit to Tuscaloosa.

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Alabama MBB signee Mouhamed Dioubate named New England Player of the Year

Alabama basketball signee Mouhamed Dioubate was recently named as the New England Player of the Year. Dioubate played his senior season at Putnam Science Academy.

Alabama men’s basketball signee Mouhamed Dioubate was recently named as the New England Player of the Year. Dioubate spent his senior season at Putnam Science Academy in Flushing, New York.

Dioubate signed with the Crimson Tide in November. He is listed at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds. 247Sports has Dioubate ranked as the No. 97 prospect in the country as well as the No. 4 prospect from New York.

Dioubate’s high school head coach Tom Espinosa spoke with BamaOnline about the type of player he was. Espinosa had this to say:

“He’s a guy like — I’m not saying he’s Grant Williams — but he’s a guy like that,” Espinosa said. “An undersized big that can rebound and block shots. He’s unique. And one thing he’s really improved in his game is he catches that ball in the high post, 15 feet, rips through and attacks really well. And his jump shot is coming along really well.”

Dioubate could have a sizable role in Tuscaloosa next season given his versatility and length. Those are two characteristics that bode well in Nate Oats’ system. Whatever the case may be, he will provide valuable depth for the Crimson Tide next season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball news.

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Alabama extends offer to 2026 PF from Mississippi

Alabama’s coaching staff extended an offer to 2026 power forward Sam Funches on Wednesday.

Alabama’s coaching staff has extended an early offer to 2026 prospect Sam Funches. The Mississippi native has already received 15 offers entering his freshman season at Germantown High School in Madison, Mississippi. Several programs that have extended him offers are Auburn, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss.

Funches is already 6-foot-10, 190 pounds, and has four years of basketball until he graduates. It is unknown who Alabama will have on the coaching staff or the roster. Nonetheless, they have shown interest and extended a verbal offer to Funches.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Funches’ recruitment as well as other Alabama basketball recruiting news.

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Alabama keeping in contact with 2024 PF Donnie Freeman

Alabama keeping in contact with talented 2024 PF Donnie Freeman.

Alabama has already begun recruiting for the 2024 recruiting cycle. One recruit that is receiving high interest from the staff is 2024 power forward Donnie Freeman.

Freeman is one of the eight power forwards that the coaching staff has extended offers to thus far. Alabama has seen recent success at the power forward position with players like Herb Jones, Alex Reese and Donta Hall all having great careers in Tuscaloosa. When Freeman spoke with On3’s Jamie Shaw about his skillset, here is what he had to say:

“I try to be as versatile as possible,” Freeman told On3. “I can rebound, guard the best player, handle the ball. I’m trying to do as much as I can on the court and always getting better. I watch a lot of Scottie Barnes and Paul George; they are always playing hard. I feel that motor and the versatility differentiate me in this class.”

Coach Oats and the rest of the coaching staff have done a phenomenal job in recent years of recruiting players that fit the Tide’s style of play. Freeman certainly appears to fit the profile.

When Freeman was asked about Alabama and their recruiting efforts, here is what he said:

“I really like Coach (Nate) Oats. They tell me how much they like my potential and my skill set and frame. I haven’t watched them play much yet, but I want to learn more about them.”

Roll Tide Wire breaks down the rest of Freeman’s recruiting profile below.

Alabama MBB beat out for four-star Cade Phillips

Tennessee Volunteers land Alabama native Cade Phillips over Crimson Tide and others

On Thursday, four-star prospect Cade Phillips announced via Twitter that he will be taking his talents to Knoxville to join the Tennessee Volunteers over the likes of Alabama, Auburn and others.

Missing out on Phillips is a stinger for [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and the Tide as he is an in-state kid out of Jacksonville, AL and would have been a great addition to the roster. Phillips is a 6’9, 200 pound power forward who is a top 100 recruit in the 2023 class.

To make matters worse, Phillips is an Alabama legacy. His father, John David Phillips, played quarter back for the Tide in the late 1990’s. His mother, Reagan, played basketball for the Tide. And, his grandfather, John, was an outstanding defensive lineman for Alabama in the 1970’s. You have to commend Phillips for being able to make his own path, even if it upsets Tide fans.

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Jabari Smith is a finalist for Karl Malone Award

Jabari Smith has been recognized as one of the top power forwards in the country.

Jabari Smith has been named one of the 10 candidates for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Smith leads the No. 1 Auburn Tigers in scoring with 15.6 points per game and is second in rebounds, with 6.1 per game. He is shooting 40.5 percent from three, 44.0 percent from the field and 79.8 percent from the free throw line.

Auburn’s star freshman has already been named the SEC Freshman of the Week four times and scored in double figures in 19-of-22 games played.

The other finalist are Azuolas Tubelis of Arizona, David Roddy of Colorado State, Paolo Banchero of Duke, Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga, Trayce Jackson-Davis of Indiana, Keegan Murray of Iowa, Tari Eason of LSU, EJ Liddell of Ohio State and Isaiah Mobley of USC.

The Karl Malone Award Hall of Fame Karl Malone and recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball.

Texas Basketball Recruiting: Longhorns sign their first recruit of 2021 class

The Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team inked the first recruit of the 2021 class. Power forward Keeyan Iterjere signed his LOI Wednesday.

The early signing period has now arrived with the first signing for Shaka Smart and the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team. The team announced the signing of Keeyan Itejere of Grace Christian School in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 6’9″ power forward becomes the first signing of the class after the Longhorns only signed one player in 2020 class with five-star power forward Greg Brown.

Itejere is the No. 11 ranked player in the state according to 247Sports rankings. He likely will eventually fill the void on next year’s team after Brown leaves for the NBA. Brown had an opportunity to head to the NBA’s developmental league but chose to stay home in Austin to play for Texas.

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Iterjere earned the nickname “Slinky” due to the fact that his tall and skinny. He could probably use a little more weight on him. Especially if Iterjere is going to be playing the four in the Big 12 where it can be a bit physical. The 2021 class has three more commits who have yet to sign their Letter of Intent, but Longhorns will keep you updated as the signings roll in.

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