With the impending exits of LaBaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell, the Alabama Crimson Tide are going to be banking on a handful of transfers to make a difference.

Luckily for the Tide Hoops, Amari Allen announced that he is returning to Tuscaloosa after withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft. But the one question mark on this team is the status of guard Aden Holloway.

Holloway was an integral part to this team, with his SEC-leading 45% shooting from 3-point range, and there was belief that the NBA was the next step for him.

Until he ran into legal troubles before the NCAA Tournament began, forcing the university to suspend him.

We still don’t know his status for next season, but there are a few newcomers that are coming into Tuscaloosa with expectations to make significant contributions for the 2026-27 squad.

Cloer gained a lot of fans in Tuscaloosa last season, as the Tide attempted to win his services for his freshman season. However, Cloer opted to not only commit to NC State, but enrolled with the Wolfpack on January 1.

However in April, NC State head coach Will Wade left to take the LSU gig, and Cloer entered the transfer portal, ultimately ending up in Alabama.

Cloer is the type of player that Oats loves. 

He’s a high-volume shooter, with a ton of bounce at the rim.

During his stint in the EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), Cloer knocked down 43% of his 3s, showcasing an ability to shoot off the dribble, on the move, or spot up. 

What’s even more impressive is for an 18-year-old, he’s a player with unshakeable confidence.

Even on off days, he’s confident in his ability to score. He’s a willing shooter, who won’t let his struggles affect the way he approaches his game.

The fourth-year big man is going to be the biggest question this season.

The Director of Scouting for 247Sports, Adam Finkelstein wrote in late April that Garrison was an incredibly volatile player for the University of Kentucky last season.

“At his best, he provided a durable big body, physicality in the lane, real length, soft hands, an interior finisher, lob threat, offensive rebounder, and willing rim-runner. At his worst, his motor was almost defiantly low at times and then there were moments of emotional reactivity. Then there was his decision making, which was wildly inconsistent…”

Garrison entered college basketball as a highly touted four-star prospect with tantalizing potential as a solid playmaker.

But he’s struggled to find that ability at the college level. In his three seasons with Oklahoma State and Kentucky, Garrison averaged under two assists per game.

The hope for Garrison is for him to find that motor and playmaking ability that he lost over the past three seasons. It’s a risky play, but Oats has usually done a good job at getting the best out of his players.

At worst, he turns into a decent depth piece, but it’s clear that Oats sees something in Garrison that hasn’t been tapped into yet.

The wild card of the newcomers.

Fielder is a fourth-year player from Boise State, after leading the Mountain West, shooting 54% from the field. Prior to playing last season in Boise, he spent two seasons in the Big East with Georgetown, where he made a minimal impact.

With the way Fielder plays, he’s the polar opposite of Garrison, with a high motor and a blue-collar approach to the game.

He loves initiating contact, which is something that the Crimson Tide lacked last season. They continuously were beaten on loose balls and offensive rebounds and bringing in Fielder adds that much needed bite.

Of course, when you’re playing on an Oats-coached team, you need to have some sort of an outside shot.

Fielder won’t go hunting for a perimeter shot, but he’s not afraid to take it. Last season for the Broncos, he attempted a career-high 93 3-point attempts and made them at a 41% clip.

For everything the Tide lacked last season, Oats has found a way to right those wrongs. He’s added more shooting, more bite to his frontcourt, and even a project to help get the most out of.

Alabama may have lost star power this offseason, but the Crimson Tide quietly may have built a roster better suited for March.

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