Breaking down Alabama’s 2023-2024 men’s basketball roster

Alabama finished the 2022-2023 season with a Sweet Sixteen loss. Now, the Crimson Tide roster will look to improve off of that under the direction of fifth-year head coach Nate Oats. Not only did Alabama have a large amount of turnover on the roster, but they also made some serious changes to the coaching staff.

During the offseason, Alabama lost several assistant coaches. As a result, several assistant coaches were hired onto the staff. A few of them include Austin Claunch, Ryan Pannone, and Preston Murphy. Each has a different role and has made extended efforts on the recruiting trail and on the court to make this Alabama team the best that it can be.

It will be interesting to see how the new faces on Alabama’s roster perform this season.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down the current Alabama men’s basketball roster for the 2023-2024 season.

#1 - Mark Sears (Sr.)

’22-’23 Stats: 12.5 PPG / 3.5 RPG / 2.6 APG / 40.6 FG% / 34.5 3P%

The Crimson Tide will come into the new season led by veteran guard Mark Sears. The former Ohio transfer was a staple in Alabama’s backcourt a season ago. He will be called on as a leader this season with multiple departures during the offseason. Sears is a proven shooter that can also facilitate at a high level. It will be interesting to see how he progresses this season as a senior.

#3 - Rylan Griffen (So.)

’22-’23 Stats: 5.9 PPG / 2.6 RPG / .7 APG / 36.5 FG% / 30.1 3P%

Entering his second season in Tuscaloosa is sophomore guard Rylan Griffen. The Texas native was key player off the bench last season for the Crimson Tide. He is a good option to knock down threes. Griffen will need to continue to improve on the defensive end of the floor. Nate Oats and the rest of the coaching staff are expecting big things from Griffen this season.

#55 - Aaron Estrada (5th)

’22-’23 Stats at Hofstra: 20.2 PPG / 5.5 RPG / 4.3 APG / 47.8 FG% / 36.8 3P%

Alabama landed a gem via the transfer portal this offseason. Hofstra transfer guard Aaron Estrada was a two-time CAA Player of the Year. The New Jersey native has played for three teams in four seasons. His final season at Alabama will mark the fourth program that he has played for in five seasons. Estrada is a walking bucket and can make an impact on the defensive end as well. He excels on the offensive end but prides himself in performing at a high level on the defensive end as well. The coaching staff has some high expectations for Estrada heading into the season.

#12 - Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Sr.)

’22-’23 Stats at Cal-State Fullerton: 16.3 PPG / 4.5 RPG / 2.4 APG / 42.4 FG% / 38.3 3P%

Alabama was able to land one of the more proficient scorers in the country in this year’s transfer portal cycle. Cal State Fullerton guard transfer Latrell Wrightsell Jr. chose the Crimson Tide over other programs like Nebraska and Creighton upon entering the portal. Wrightsell Jr. earned All-Big West First Team honors in 2023. He will likely be a key bench player for the Crimson Tide this season. He brings much-needed experience and veteran leadership to Tuscaloosa. Wrightsell Jr. will be a pivotal player down the stretch for Nate Oats’ squad this season.

#4 - Davin Cosby Jr. (Fr.)

’22-’23 Stats: N/A

Davin Cosby Jr. will be playing his first season in Tuscaloosa this year. However, he was an early enrollee last season, so he was able to work closely with the team. Cosby Jr. was a four-star guard coming out of high school. The Virginia native missed Alabama’s first two exhibition games due to an injury. He will be ready to go for Alabama’s season-opener against Morehead State. It will be interesting to see how the freshman fairs this season in Tuscaloosa.

#0 - Kris Parker (Fr.)

’22-’23 Stats: N/A

There was some buzz this offseason surrounding freshman wing Kris Parker. The Florida native was highly rated coming out of Crossroad Academy in Quincy, Florida. He is listed at 6-foot-9 and 195 pounds. Alabama can use Parker in multiple different positions. His size and skillset will allow him to contribute effectively on both ends of the floor and allow him to operate in Alabama’s system. The coaching staff is expecting big things from Parker.

#24 - Sam Walters (Fr.)

’22-’23 Stats: N/A

Through the first two exhibition games against Wake Forest and TCU, freshman forward Sam Walters scored 40 points. The Florida native was a bright spot for the Crimson Tide. While he may not be viewed as a starter, Walters will be a reliable option to turn to for Alabama this season. He can shoot the three but is capable of being an elite defender as well. Alabama will count on Walters to provide valuable minutes this season whether it be as a bench player or as a starter.

#2 - Grant Nelson (Sr.)

’22-’23 Stats at North Dakota State: 17.9 PPG / 9.3 RPG / 2.1 APG / 52.1 FG% / 26.9 3P%

One of the transfers that will be called on largely this season is North Dakota State transfer forward Grant Nelson. The “unicorn” as many Alabama fans have called him was named a Preseason All-SEC Second-Team selection. At 6-foot-11 and 230 pounds, Nelson can make an immediate and felt impact on both ends of the floor. Multiple prestigious basketball programs like Arkansas, Kentucky, and Kansas pursued Nelson when he entered the transfer portal. Alabama was able to sell to Nelson the fact that former Alabama forward Noah Clowney went from being an undrafted pick to a first-round draft pick. Nonetheless, the coaching staff is expecting similar things out of Nelson this season.

#15 - Jarin Stevenson (Fr.)

’22-’23 Stats: N/A

Alabama was able to convince North Carolina native Jarin Stevenson to not only re-classify but to choose the Crimson Tide over his hometown school, North Carolina. Alabama went all-in on getting Stevenson to commit, and it worked in the end. Nate Oats has compared Stevenson to Noah Clowney and rightfully so. The two are similar in stature and have eerily similar skill sets. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if Stevenson lives up to the hype. He has all of the potential to do so.

#10 - Mouhamed Dioubate (Fr.)

’22-’23 Stats: N/A

After suffering a preseason injury, freshman forward Mouhamed Dioubate appears to be healthy and ready to play to start the season. The New York native was highly-regarded coming out of high school. Dioubate is listed at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds. Given Alabama’s depth in the frontcourt, he could play small forward or power forward given his size. Dioubate should be an impactful player off the bench this season for the Crimson Tide.

#11 - Mohamed Wague (Jr.)

’22-’23 Stats at West Virginia: 4.1 PPG / 3.1 RPG / .3 APG / 74.2 FG% 

Alabama missed out on several transfer portal targets but was able to land one of the top big men in the country. West Virginia forward transfer Mohamed Wague fell right into Alabama’s hands late in the transfer portal cycle. The former JUCO All-American caught the coaching staff’s eyes. Despite having a limited role with the Mountaineers, Wague was everything that Alabama was looking for. He has the size and potential to be special in Alabama’s system. It will be interesting to see how he performs in his first season in Tuscaloosa.

#23 - Nick Pringle (Sr.)

’22-’23 Stats: 3.5 PPG / 3.1 RPG / .2 APG / 84.7 FG% 

A lot of Alabama fans already have a fan-favorite heading into the season. That is senior forward Nick Pringle. Last season, Pringle served primarily as a bench player. Nonetheless, he always seemed to make the most of his minutes. Whether he was catching alleys or blocking shots, Pringle made it tough on opponents. In all likelihood, he will be Alabama’s starting center this season. With Charles Bediako heading to the NBA, Pringle will be called on to step up. The coaching staff will depend on Pringle to be a leader and someone who makes big plays on the floor this season.

Story originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire