Top-25 forward Qayden Samuels electrifies Tuscaloosa, bringing elite scoring and rebounding prowess to the Crimson Tide's winning culture.
Alabama basketball just made another loud statement on the recruiting trail.
Top-25 small forward Qayden Samuels announced his commitment to Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball, choosing the Tide over Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball and sending another signal that Tuscaloosa is a destination for elite talent.
Samuels, a 6-foot-5 wing out of Bishop McNamara High School in Maryland, took his time with the decision.
He visited both programs in the fall and elected to wait past the early signing period before making his call.
In the end, Alabama simply felt right.
“I had to decide whether I wanted to stay home or go away,” Samuels told ESPN. “My family was going to support either decision. When I went to Alabama, I loved the school. I met with the trainers, academic staff, and the athletic director, and I felt a strong connection.”
That connection didn’t happen overnight.
Nate Oats has been recruiting Samuels since his sophomore year, building trust and consistency that clearly paid off.
“Nate Oats has been recruiting me and offered me since I was a sophomore,” Samuels said. “Georgetown and coach [Ed Cooley] have also recruited me for a long time. I have a high respect for the Georgetown program and Coach Cooley.”
Alabama surged into the lead after Samuels’ October visit to Tuscaloosa, where he got a firsthand look at Oats’ practices and the direction of the program.
“Alabama has all the resources; they're building a new practice facility,” Samuels said. “During my visit, Coach Oats spent a lot of time with me, and we really connected. Watching him in practice, he is very focused and intense, but he never gets too high or too low.”
On the floor, this is a perfect fit.
Samuels thrives in space, can score at all three levels, and rebounds well for his position, exactly what Alabama values.
“Their play style of shooting 3s, layups and free throws fits my game,” he added. “…I believe it's a program and place where I can go and have the opportunity to become a pro.”
Ranked No. 22 in the SC Next 100 for the Class of 2026, Samuels was one of the most productive players on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds for Team Takeover while shooting nearly 39% from deep.
He also led the NBPA Top 100 Camp in scoring.
Bottom line: Alabama didn’t just land a recruit, they landed a difference-maker.
And under Nate Oats, that keeps becoming the norm.