Elite wing Qayden Samuels officially joins Alabama, bringing elite scoring, length, and athleticism to the Crimson Tide's dynamic system.
It’s officially official!!
The Alabama Crimson Tide Men's basketball team just locked in another major piece of its future.
Four-star small forward Qayden Samuels has officially signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball, putting pen to paper and making his commitment to Tuscaloosa permanent. This one matters, and it matters in a big way.
Samuels is ranked as the No. 6 small forward in the country and the No. 18 overall player nationally by 247Sports. He’s also tabbed as the No. 2 recruit from the state of Maryland, a talent-rich basketball hotbed that Alabama continues to recruit at a high level under Nate Oats.
At 6-foot-5, Samuels brings the kind of versatile wing skill set Alabama thrives on.
He can score at all three levels, rebound through contact, and stretch the floor with confidence.
On the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Takeover, Samuels proved he’s more than just rankings and hype, he was one of the most productive players on the floor, averaging over 20 points per game while shooting efficiently from deep.
When the lights were brightest, he delivered.
But what stands out just as much as the production is the fit.
This is exactly the type of player Alabama basketball has been built around in the Nate Oats era.
Length.
Athleticism.
Shooting.
Toughness.
Samuels checks every box. He fits the up-tempo, space-the-floor system that prioritizes threes, rim pressure, and free throws, and he fits the culture that’s been established in Tuscaloosa year after year under head coach Nate Oats.
Alabama didn’t just win a recruiting battle here.
They won a long-term one.
Oats and his staff have recruited Samuels for years, building trust and relationships the right way. When it came time to make it official, the decision spoke for itself.
This signing is another reminder that Alabama basketball is no longer chasing the elite programs in the country, they are the destination. Nate Oats has continued to help Alabama become one of the most competitive program in the nation. Something many fans wondered if Alabama was ever capable of being.
Qayden Samuels is a Tide player now.
And the future in Tuscaloosa just got even brighter.
Roll Tide.