By Loveth 
Alabama’s head basketball coach Nate Oats has built a strong reputation for putting together winning rosters, and Preston Murphy is known as a top-notch recruiter. But this offseason might be their biggest challenge yet.
The Crimson Tide is hunting for a lead guard for the 2025–26 season, and Labaron Philon looked like the perfect fit—especially after his standout performance against Kentucky. But now, things are uncertain. Philon hasn’t ruled out coming back to Alabama, but he’s currently all-in on the NBA Draft. He said he’s focused on going pro, but left the door open a crack: “You never know what can happen. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Oats probably already knows how much Alabama can offer Philon through NIL deals, and there’s a real chance he could earn more by staying in college than going pro—unless he’s picked in the top 25 of the draft. Still, Philon seems more interested in chasing his NBA dream than the money.
So, what’s next for Alabama? They’re keeping a spot open on the roster just in case Philon returns, but they need a backup plan. Two of the three open spots are expected to go to returning player Rylan Griffen and transfer Keitenn Bristow. The third could go to Philon—or someone else who can lead the offense. After missing out on transfer Cedric Coward to Duke, the pressure is on.
The deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft is May 28, but workouts and feedback from the NBA and G-League combines could speed up Philon’s decision. The NBA Combine wraps up on May 18, but individual workouts will keep going after that.
For now, Oats is stuck playing the waiting game, which is risky with so many other programs making big transfer moves. Alabama wasn’t even mentioned in a recent list of top transfer classes, while several other SEC teams made the cut.
Bottom line: Oats and Murphy are used to making magic in the offseason—but this time, they’re being tested more than ever.