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.
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.
Philon's return opens up a number of possibilities for Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats' starting five.
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.
"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.
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@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What could Alabama basketball's starting five look like with Labaron Philon back?
