Latest news with #LabaronPhilon
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dates announced for Alabama men's and women's basketball in SEC/ACC Challenge
The date for Alabama basketball's meeting with Clemson in the SEC/ACC Challenge has been set. ESPN announced that the Crimson Tide and the Tigers will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Coleman Coliseum will be the venue for the teams' first time meeting since Alabama punched its ticket to a historic Final Four in 2024. The game is also a rematch of the inaugural SEC/ACC Challenge in 2023, which Clemson won 85-77. In 2025, Clemson was bounced from the NCAA Tournament by McNeese State — a mid-major that Alabama took down 72-64 on its way to the Elite Eight — and finished the season 27-7 with an 18-2 record in league play. Advertisement Clemson will also be the opponent for Alabama women's basketball. The game is set for Thursday, Dec. 4 in Coleman. Start times and programming will be announced at a later date, according to ESPN. LINK ACADFEMY ALUMS: Davion Hannah and Labaron Philon to bring 'old school feel' to Alabama basketball MEET THE NEW GUYS: Why Taylor Bol Bowen wanted to play for Alabama basketball assistant Preston Murphy again Nate Oats working towards putting together country's toughest schedule again for Alabama basketball Nov 20, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) hits a three as he is fouled from behind by Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) in the CM Newton Classic at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News Here's a look at the Crimson Tide's non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season as of now. Nov. 8: at St. John's in Madison Square Garden Nov. 13: vs. Purdue Nov. 19: vs. Illinois at United Center (Chicago) Nov. 26-30: Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nev. Dec. 3: vs. Clemson in SEC/ACC Challenge Dec. 7: vs. UTSA Dec. 13: vs. Arizona in C.M. Newton Classic Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State at Propst Arena in Huntsville vs. North Dakota − date has yet to be confirmed vs. Yale − reported by Jon Rothstein, date has yet to be confirmed vs. USF − date has yet to be confirmed Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ Advertisement This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Dates announced for Alabama men's and women's basketball in SEC/ACC Challenge
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama basketball starter, expected 2025-26 leader, lands in first 2026 NBA mock drafts
Alabama basketball received some of the best news it could have hoped for when guard Labaron Philon announced at the end of May that he was returning to Tuscaloosa for his sophomore season rather than remain in the 2025 NBA draft class. Philon's return gives Nate Oats' team a needed boost after the Crimson Tide lost impact starters Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and Clifford Omoruyi from its 2024-25 roster due to eligibility. RELATED: Where Alabama players signed as undrafted NBA free agents As the Dallas Mavericks made official what everyone had known for months with the selection of Duke's Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall in this week's draft, national outlets like ESPN, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, et al, were already finalizing way-too-early 2026 NBA draft projections. That's where Philon comes in. After decommitting from Kansas and joining Alabama as a 4-star recruit and the No. 32 overall player in the nation by 247Sports and ESPN, the Mobile native played in all 37 games for the Crimson Tide in 2024-25. He averaged 10.6 points and 3.3 rebounds with 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals. Philon averaged almost 25 minutes a night last season and tied a season-high with 21 points in the Crimson Tide's rout of Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. He shot 42.5 percent from the field a season ago. In Bleacher Report's first 2026 NBA mock draft on Friday, Philon landed at No. 27 overall with analyst Jonathan Wasserman saying: "He'll return to Alabama to improve his shooting, which is a potential needle-mover for a point guard who already excels at getting to his spots, setting up teammates and scoring with unteachable touch inside the arc." Philon also landed on ESPN's first 2026 NBA mock draft in roughly the same spot. Analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have Philon at No. 28 overall, one spot ahead of Florida Gators big man Alex Condon. Philon being a late-round projection heading into 2025-26 could work to his advantage. He had a fair amount of confidence in his draft stock after telling ESPN's Jeff Borzello in May that the door was closed on a return to Alabama. There's obvious talent in his shot and overall play, but a sophomore season in college basketball's toughest conference could make Philon as battle-tested for the NBA as almost anyone in 2026
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Preston Murphy had one more surprise in store for Alabama basketball's 2025-26 roster
Family ties wrapped up Alabama basketball's roster for the 2025-26 season. UA athletics updated the Crimson Tide's team website with incoming freshmen, transfers and new assistant coach Chris Fleming, hired in place of Ryan Pannone after his move to Arkansas State. Advertisement Alabama still had a spot remaining after Labaron Philon's shocking return, but with staff backing out on transfer prospect Desmond Claude (USC), it seemed like the Mobile point guard's comeback completed the roster. Instead, assistant Preston Murphy had a surprise for fans on Tuesday: His son. Preston Murphy's son completes Alabama basketball roster for 2025-26 season Preston Murphy Jr. is a 6-foot-1 junior guard and will be a walk-on with the Crimson Tide. Murphy Jr. spent two seasons at New Orleans before he transferred to Northern Oklahoma College last year. He played 28 games, averaging 14.4 points while shooting 42% from the field with 4.1 assists and 3.4 boards. Murphy Jr. had double-doubles in 21 appearances. Advertisement During high school at St. Andrew's in Barrington, R.I., Murphy Jr. was labeled as a three-star recruit and was ranked 38th at his position by 247Sports among point guards in the 2022 recruiting class. The addition of Murphy Jr. makes 13 total players available for Alabama basketball this fall. Alabama basketball newcomers for 2025-26 season Jalil Bethea, G, sophomore Davion Hannah, G, freshman Amari Allen, F, freshman London Jemison, F, freshman Taylor Bol Bowen, F, junior Keitenn Bristow, F, sophomore Noah Williamson, C, senior Preston Murphy Jr., G, junior Who is returning for Crimson Tide after Elite Eight run? Labaron Philon, G, sophomore Aden Holloway, G, junior Latrell Wrightsell Jr., G, graduate Aiden Sherrell, C, sophomore Houston Mallette, G, graduate Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Preston Murphy's son to join Alabama basketball for 2025-26 season
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Labaron Philon is back: What are potential starting fives for Alabama basketball in 2025-26?
Labaron Philon's surprise return to Alabama basketball gives the Crimson Tide a full 12-man roster for the 2025–26 season — and a major boost in the backcourt. Six of those Crimson Tide players are guards, unexpectedly including the Mobile native after the SEC All-Freshman selection pulled out of the 2025 NBA Draft, 28 minutes before the withdrawal deadline. Advertisement Fans knew going into Alabama's most recent Elite Eight run that they would lose All-American Mark Sears. The hope was Philon would run it back, but that dwindled as his star rose throughout his rookie year. Panic struck for some when Philon declared for the draft on Apr. 15, and it only grew as the days went by with an open spot on Alabama's roster, which needed a proven presence to run the point and find its lengthy shooters. NEW HOME FOR TIDE HOOPS: Nate Oats lays blueprint, talks move-in for NBA-inspired Alabama basketball practice facility REQUIRED READING: What Labaron Philon said about unexpected return to Alabama basketball for sophomore season Alabama guards for the 2025-26 season will also include returners Aden Holloway, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Houston Mallette, who was officially approved for his medical redshirt earlier on Wednesday, as well as Miami transfer Jalil Bethea and incoming freshman Davion Hannah. Advertisement Philon's return opens up a number of possibilities for Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats' starting five. Feb 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) celebrates after getting a breakaway dunk at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Kentucky 96-83. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News With Labaron Philon back, what are potential starting lineups for Alabama baseball? Philon and Aden Holloway are locks to split the one spot for the Crimson Tide with Mallette and Bethea likely to share the work at the two. "I think he's [Holloway] had a really good spring. I think he's going to have an even better year next year. He's one of the best shooters in the country," Oats said at the Regions Tradition a couple weeks ago. Wrightsell is a lock for the three spot, but could potentially alternate with incoming freshmen London Jemison, who is billed at 6-foot-10, or Amari Allen. Oats noted Wrightsell should be ready to play in the fall, but it'll be his first season back since the ACL injury that put his career on pause in 2024, so preserving his health will almost certainly be a priority on the front-end of the non-conference schedule. Advertisement "The freshmen, we think, add positional size, length, shooting, athleticism. London Jemison had a really good year. He shot it really well," Oats said. "Amari Allen and Davion Hannah both I think are guys we're looking for. Guys that have been good in our system. 6-6, 6-7 guard wing that can create advantages." Six-foot-ten Florida State forward transfer Taylor Bol Bowens is anticipated to start regularly at the four spot, where 6-8 Tarleton State former and WAC Freshman of the Year Keitenn Bristow will also be an option. "He moves really well, though. He can play wing. You can go small and play him at the five if you choose to," Oats said of Bol Bowens. At the five, Aiden Sherrell's late surgence as a three-point shooter, finishing 47% from deep in conference play, makes him a favorite to clinch the starting spot. It'll be a competition with Patriot League Player of the Year Noah Williamson from Bucknell, who stands at 7-feet alongside a growing Sherrell. Advertisement Williamson, a senior, can offer a veteran presence at center. However, Sherrell has survived the waters of the SEC and has a year of operating in Oats' fast-paced system already under his belt. Averaging 75.3 possessions per game, Alabama finished first in KenPom's tempo rankings. Meanwhile, Bucknell came in at No. 181 with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes. Nothing has been set in stone, but it seems like the most likely starting five for Alabama basketball down the stretch will be Philon, Mallette, Wrightsell, Bol Bowen and Sherrell. That's not to say Bethea couldn't make the jump to start between living up the upside he brings from a wanting freshman season at Miami, or how Mallette's knees hold up. Oats thought that Alabama would "be fine" with the 11 it had before Philon's announcement. He didn't have to look far for the missing piece he was looking for to take the Crimson Tide on another deep run. Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What could Alabama basketball's starting five look like with Labaron Philon back?
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who's on the 2025-26 non-conference schedule for Alabama basketball as of June?
Thirteen grueling games of non-conference play conditioned Alabama basketball for another deep run in the NCAA Tournament last season. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats hasn't let off the gas in crafting Alabama's 2025-26 non-con slate and has spent the offseason sharing that he plans on his team having the "best schedule in the country again." Now that Labaron Philon is back in the driver's seat for the Crimson Tide's back court, it seems winnable. Advertisement As of now, Alabama's schedule next season starts with a visit to Madison Square Garden to face St. John's on Nov. 8. The two could even meet again depending on how things shake out at the Players Era Festival later in the month. Alabama walked away from Las Vegas as the runner-up to Oregon, which will be in attendance this year alongside Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. Joes, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV. Including the Players Era Festival, Alabama has six confirmed dates on the schedule, plus certain appearances in the SEC/ACC Challenge, and against North Dakota and Yale. There's also been circulation of a potential matchup with South Florida, coached by former Crimson Tide assistant Bryan Hodgson. Alabama's latest addition to the schedule, as reported by Rocco Miller, will come against another member of Oats' coaching tree, Austin Claunch, who led University of Texas-San Antonio to a 12-19 record in his first season at the helm last year. Dec 14, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama head coach Nate Oats protests a call on a ball out of bounds at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Creighton 83-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News A look at Alabama basketball's 2025-26 non-conference schedule Nov. 8: at St. John's in Madison Square Garden Nov. 13: vs. Purdue Nov. 19: vs. Illinois at United Center (Chicago) Nov. 26-30: Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nev. Dec. 7: vs. UTSA Dec. 13: vs. Arizona in C.M. Newton Classic SEC/ACC Challenge − no dates announced vs. North Dakota − date has yet to be confirmed vs. Yale − reported by Jon Rothstein, date has yet to be confirmed Advertisement Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: A look at Alabama basketball's 2025-26 non-conference schedule as of June
