The top player from each program Alabama MBB faces in the ’23-’24 season
Alabama will kick off the 2023-24 season on November 6 against Morehead State. The Crimson Tide have replenished its roster and are prepared to have yet another good season under head coach Nate Oats.
The thing that Oats prioritizes is having a strong non-conference schedule so that his squad is prepared for conference play. Much like recent years, the Crimson Tide will meet some of the top teams in the country on the road, at neutral sites, and several games at home.
Needless to say, Alabama’s opponents are stacked with talent. It goes without saying that Alabama does as well.
Roll Tide Wire takes a look at the top players from each program that Alabama men’s basketball will meet during the 2023-’24 season.
Mark Freeman (Morehead State)
’22-’23 Stats: 15.0 PPG / 2.8 PPG / 3.7 APG / 40.5 FG% / 36.2 3P%
Alabama will open up the new season against Morehead State. The Eagles are led by senior guard Mark Freeman. The Memphis native helped lead the Eagles to a 22-12 overall record a season ago. The Crimson Tide will need to slow Freeman down in order to have the best chance to win in the season-opener.
Aaron Gray (Indiana State)
’22-’23 Stats: 12.4 PPG / 4.5 RPG / 1.1 APG / 43.0 FG% / 33.1 3P%
During the offseason, the Sycamores were able to land Niagara guard transfer Aaron Gray. The Rhode Island native provides veteran experience and depth to the Sycamores backcourt. During his sophomore season with the Purple Eagles, Gray had 20 double-digit scoring nights.
Maxwell Land (South Alabama)
’22-’23 Stats: 12.8 PPG / 5.4 RPG / 1.5 APG / 42.4 FG% / 36.4 3P%
South Alabama landed a gem via the transfer portal during the offseason. Saint Francis guard transfer Maxwell Land made the decision to transfer to the Jaguars following his junior season with the Red Flash. He is a veteran guard who can score and provide leadership for a younger, Jaguars squad this season.
Jalyn McCreary (Mercer)
’22-’23 Stats: 15.2 PPG / 5.4 RPG / 0.5 APG / 54.7 FG%
Jalyn McCreary will spend his fifth and final season at Mercer. His college career has been a whirlwind. He began his career at South Carolina where he spent two seasons. Prior to his junior season, McCreary transferred to USF. Then, he transferred to Mercer before his senior season. Now, as a super-senior, he will look to continue the success that he had from a season ago.
Zed Key (Ohio State)
’22-’23 Stats: 10.8 PPG / 7.5 RPG / 0.8 APG / 54.7 FG% / 29.2 3P%
Ohio State got off to a strong start last season but was unable to close the season on a good note. A large reason for that was the fact that junior center Zed Key suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Now, Key will be healthy and is set to have a huge senior season in Columbus. It will be interesting to see how Alabama’s frontcourt defends Key early on in the season.
PJ Hall (Clemson)
’22-’23 Stats: 15.3 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 1.0 APG / 53.5 FG% / 39.8 3P%
There is no denying the fact that Clemson forward PJ Hall is one of the best players in the ACC heading into the season. The senior has surpassed 1,000 points scored and has steadily improved in each season at Clemson. Hall is the second-leading returning scorer in the ACC. He is the heart and soul of Brad Brownell’s squad. Alabama will have to be aware of where Hall is on the floor at all times. He is a threat to score from anywhere on the floor and defends at a high level as well.
Freddy Hicks (Arkansas State)
’22-’23 Stats: 16.2 PPG / 6.0 RPG / 3.2 APG / 43.7 FG% / 34.0 3P%
In one of the more interesting non-conference games this season, the Crimson Tide will play host to Arkansas State. The Red Wolves are led by former Alabama assistant coach Bryan Hodgson and Tarleton State guard transfer Freddy Hicks. Hicks was one of the top scorers in the WAC last season. He is a knockdown shooter who can also facilitate. Hicks could present some issues for the Crimson Tide when the Red Wolves come to town.
Zach Edey (Purdue)
’22-’23 Stats: 22.3 PPG / 12.9 RPG / 1.5 APG / 60.7 FG%
In an interesting series of events, Purdue was able to bring back the nation’s top player — Zach Edey. The Canadian native swept the major National Player of the Year Awards by winning The Wooden Award, The Naismith Award, and several other prestigious awards. Edey is arguably the best player that Alabama will face during the ’23-’24 season. He possesses natural size at 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds. He can protect the rim and score down low. The Crimson Tide will be smaller in size but should have the bodies to neutralize Edey’s scoring threat.
Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
’22-’23 Stats: 15.9 PPG / 6.1 RPG / 1.2 APG / 69.5 FG% / 31.6 3P%
Creighton reached the Elite 8 last season and was led by senior big man Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Missouri native was an elite rim protector and scorer for the Bluejays. Not to mention, he was also one of the best shot blockers in the country having averaged 2.1 blockers per game. Interestingly, Kalkbrenner has continued to develop a three-point shot throughout his career. When Alabama travels to Omaha to take on Creighton, the matchup between Kalkbrenner and Alabama forward Grant Nelson will be one to keep a close eye on.
Oumar Ballo (Arizona)
’22-’23 Stats: 14.2 PPG / 8.6 RPG / 1.6 APG / 64.7 FG%
Arizona seems to always have elite big men. In the past, the Wildcats have had first-round NBA draft picks Lauri Markkanen and Deandre Ayton. Now, the Wildcats have a future first-round draft pick in senior Oumar Ballo. The Gonzaga transfer had a stellar junior season in the PAC-12 last season. Ballo was a First Team All PAC-12 selection and the PAC-12 Most Improved Player of the Year. Outside of Kalkbrenner and Edey, Ballo could be the best big man that Alabama sees this season.
Devontae Blanton (Eastern Kentucky)
’22-’23 Stats: 16.9 PPG / 6.1 RPG / 2.8 APG / 45.7 FG% / 37.0 3P%
The Colonels were led last season by junior guard Devontae Blanton. The Ohio native was a scoring machine and was named an A-SUN First Team All-Conference selection. Blanton is a reliable option in the Colonels’ backcourt. He started all 37 games and was a double-digit scorer in 31 games. Alabama will be tasked with slowing down one of the top players in the A-SUN Conference.
Kaden Metheny (Liberty)
’22-’23 Stats: 10.7 PPG / 2.9 RPG / 2.6 APG / 39.8 FG% / 38.2 3P%
Liberty lost its two leading scorers from a season ago: Darius McGhee and Kyle Rode. The Flame was able to land one of the top scorers from the MAC a season ago — Bowling Green State transfer Kaden Metheny. During his junior season with the Falcons, Metheny tied for 10th in program history for most threes in program history with 66. Liberty has seemingly always been a competitive squad under the direction of head coach Ritchie McKay. Metheny adds that competitive nature to the roster.
Tyrin Lawrence (Vanderbilt)
’22-’23 Stats: 13.1 PPG / 4.4 RPG / 1.7 APG / 50.2 FG% / 36.0 3P%
Despite entering the transfer portal and weighing his options, Tyrin Lawrence elected to return to Vanderbilt. That was huge news for Jerry Stackhouse and the Commodores this offseason. Lawrence is an efficient shooter from the floor and excels at making contested shots around the rim. The Georgia native scored 20 points against the Crimson Tide last season. He almost always scores double-digits in points, so Alabama will have to be well-prepared to defend Lawrence.
B.J. Mack (South Carolina)
’22-’23 Stats: 16.6 PPG / 5.6 RPG / 1.4 APG / 49.2 FG% / 33.5 3P%
The Alabama coaching staff became familiar with Wofford transfer B.J. Mack this offseason. The Crimson Tide recruited Mack prior to him choosing South Carolina. The fifth-year senior can score at all three levels and defends at a high level as well. Alabama will have to match his physicality as well. Mack is listed at 6-foot-8 and 270 pounds, so he will be tough to guard in the post in all likelihood. It will be interesting to see how Alabama plans to stop him from doing damage.
Tolu Smith (Mississippi State)
’22-’23 Stats: 15.7 PPG / 8.5 RPG / 1.7 APG / 57.2 FG%
It seems like Tolu Smith has been in college for an eternity. The fifth-year senior will be spending his final year of eligibility in Starkville this season. Smith is a proven scorer and rebounder and will present some challenges for Alabama’s frontcourt. Last season, Smith scored 37 points in three contests against the Crimson Tide.
John Tonje (Missouri)
’22-’23 Stats: 14.6 PPG / 4.7 RPG / 1.3 APG / 47.3 FG% / 38.9 3P%
Missouri saw several of its leaders pursue professional opportunities this offseason. With that being the case, Tigers head coach Dennis Gates went to the transfer portal to land Colorado State transfer John Tonje. The Nebraska native spent four seasons with the Rams. He will help provide experience as well as a scoring presence for Missouri this season.
Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)
’22-’23 Stats: 10.7 PPG / 2.7 RPG / 5.4 RPG / 37.5 FG% / 31.1 3P%
Tennessee was without its leader at the end of last season. Sophomore guard Zakai Zeigler suffered a season-ending injury early on in conference play. Despite that, Zeigler was still one of 10 semifinalists to win the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. That is pretty remarkable to consider given the amount of elite defenders in college basketball. Zeigler will be a tough guard for the Crimson Tide as well. He is a shifty guard who can score and facilitate at will.
Johni Broome (Auburn)
’22-’23 Stats: 14.2 PPG / 8.4 RPG / 1.3 APG / 52.7 FG% / 29.0 3P%
Auburn lost several players during the offseason to the transfer portal and NBA Draft. One player that stuck around for his junior season was forward Johni Broome. During his first season in the SEC, Broome was named a member of the All-SEC Second Team. Broome really came on late in the season for the Tigers. Alabama has plenty of options to defend Broome. Nonetheless, he appears to be Auburn’s top player heading into the season.
Jalen Cook (LSU)
’22-’23 Stats: 19.9 PPG / 2.9 RPG / 4.9 RPG / 45.2 FG% / 34.5 3P%
Tulane transfer Jalen Cook will return to the school where his college career started — LSU. The Louisiana native took the AAC by storm the past two seasons and is now poised to have a breakout season in Baton Rouge. Cook is an elite scorer, rebounder, and facilitator. He is sure to present challenges for opposing backcourts, including Alabama’s.
Noah Thomasson (Georgia)
’22-’23 Stats: 19.5 PPG / 3.8 RPG / 3.5 APG / 48.1 FG% / 38.6 3P%
Georgia was able to land multiple players via the transfer portal during the offseason. None were more important than landing Niagara guard transfer Noah Thomasson. The Texas native was a unanimous First-Team All-Metro selection last season. He led the league in scoring and ranked 34th nationally in scoring at 19.5 points per game. His veteran presence and scoring prowess make him a difficult player to defend. Alabama will have to be aware of where he is on the floor at all times.
Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
’22-’23 Stats: 16.3 PPG / 2.7 RPG / 3.9 APG / 39.6 FG% / 35.6 3P%
For several years, one of the toughest guards for Alabama to defend has been Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV. The Texas native helped the Aggies reach the NCAA Tournament last season. He was the leading scorer and was an influential player on the defensive end of the floor as well. Heading into the 2023 season, Taylor IV was named the Preseason All-SEC Player of the Year.
Riley Kugel (Florida)
’22-’23 Stats: 9.9 PPG / 2.8 RPG / 1.0 APG / 45.6 FG% / 37.6 3P%
The stats may not show it, but Florida has quite the freak athlete in sophomore forward Riley Kugel. The Florida native had an impressive freshman campaign in Gainesville. He is sure to have an even more productive sophomore season. Kugel had 15 points and six rebounds against the Crimson Tide last season. It will be interesting to see how he performs in Gainesville this season.
Aaron Bradshaw (Kentucky)
’22-’23 Stats: N/A — High school senior
Despite not playing a single game in a Kentucky uniform, incoming freshman Aaron Bradshaw has been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 7-footer has all of the tools to succeed at the college level. Bradshaw has the motor and fluidity to coexist with his post presence, making him one of the top players in the country. Alabama will likely have a difficult time trying to defend Bradshaw this season.
Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss)
’22-’23 Stats: 14.4 PPG / 3.5 RPG / 2.6 APG / 36.5 FG% / 30.4 3P%
Ole Miss lost a handful of players to the transfer portal this offseason following the departure of head coach Kermit Davis. One of the players who stuck around and will now have the opportunity to play for head coach Chris Beard is senior Matthew Murrell. The Tennessee native will have a strong supporting cast and should reap the benefits as a result.
Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)
’22-’23 Stats: 11.8 PPG / 6.0 RPG / 1.0 APG / 48.1 FG% / 37.9 3P%
Arkansas has one of the most talented rosters in college basketball heading into this season. A key reason for that is redshirt sophomore Trevon Brazile. After suffering a season-ending injury early on a season ago, Brazile is now healthy and ready to contribute for the Razorbacks this season. He possesses the length and size to be a shot creator, shot maker, and facilitator. not to mention, he is effective around the rim. Alabama will likely have Jarin Stevenson or Grant Nelson guard Brazile this season.
