After Allen withdrew his name from the NBA Draft, it immediately raised the Crimson Tide's ceiling for next season.
Despite making an appearance to the Sweet Sixteen last season, it’s no secret that the Alabama Crimson Tide needed to make changes.
Unfortunately for coach Nate Oats, he lost his star player LaBaron Philon to the NBA Draft – an uber-skilled guard who can post 20 points per game, and shoot 40% from 3-point land.
Not only that, center Aiden Sherrell entered the transfer portal, and headed up north to play for the Indiana Hoosiers.
But Oats received a major win, after combo guard Amari Allen withdrew his name from the Draft, after he received projections that likely had him getting selected in the second round.
The Allen factor is so much more important though.
As we watched Allen play throughout the season, it was clear that he had the skills to be great, but there was one problem.
He was raw.
And sometimes that’s not the worst thing in the world. But when you’re raw, having a long-term outlook rather than wanting to jump into the pros is best for your career and the team’s success.
We saw what Allen could do. He had superb athleticism and length, with solid ball-handling skills, a willingness to shoot, and had the defensive intensity that Oats was looking for.
Oats knows what he’s doing. He’s developed players at a high-level before. Just look at Philon.
At the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Philon initially intended to enter the draft, with projections that included him getting selected in the late first round.
But at the eleventh hour, Philon withdrew his name, and opted to return to Tuscaloosa.
Just like what Allen did.
From there, Philon turned into a superstar. He increased his points per game average by 12 points, his 3-point shooting percentage by nine points, as well as his true shooting percentage up from 55% to 63%.
Now? Philon is projected to be selected in the lottery of this season's draft.
That’s all Allen needed. While he was excited for an opportunity to be playing in the NBA – any player’s dream – what is more important is sustaining success in the pros.
Now, all he has to worry about is becoming a more consistent shooter. He wasn’t shy when attempting shots from long distance, averaging 4.3 attempts from 3-point range, but he only made 34% of those shots, which is fine for a depth shooter.
But for a centerpiece? There’s another level that he needed to reach. Especially on an Oats-coached team.
For both the player and the team, this was the best possible outcome. Oats has his potential centerpiece. Allen holds his professional future in his hands.
The next step? Making a legitimate push for the National Championship.
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