Alabama forward Mo Dioubate announces return for 2024-25 season
Alabama already looked set to have a great roster for next season with several players returning and key additions coming into the program. That lineup only improved today with the latest announcement by Mouhamed Dioubate.
In a post on social media, Dioubate let it be known that he’d be back with the Crimson Tide for a sophomore season next year.
“Let’s run it back!” Dioubate wrote on Twitter.
Dioubate appeared in 33 games over his freshman year with the Tide. As a reserve at under eight minutes per game, he averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 47.4% overall.
Dioubate’s best outing was a 14-point, nine-rebound performance in a 32-point win over Mississippi State to start off in February. However, his most impactful effort was a key nine-point, five-rebound finish in their victory in the Round of 32 during the NCAA Tournament against Grand Canyon.
Dioubate, a Flushing, New York native, was a four-star prospect and the No. 99 overall recruit in 2023. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also rated as a Top-25 SF and a top-five player out of Connecticut after playing in high school at Putnam Science Academy.
Dioubate was one of the final pieces from last year’s team that made the Final Four who was unaccounted for. Now, with this return, he is one that is certain to be back alongside Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr.. Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson could also return after they finish testing for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Nate Oats will pair a collection of that group with eight incoming players with four apiece coming from the transfer portal and from the prep ranks.
In the portal, Alabama has earned commitments from a quartet of top transfers. The four make up the No. 4 class in On3’s 2024 Team Transfer Portal Rankings. Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers), Aden Holloway (Auburn), Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), and Chris Youngblood (USF) all committed to the Tide this offseason. Each of the four rank in the Top-125 of On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. Omoruyi is the latest and highest-rated as the No. 12 overall transfer and No. 3 C. Youngblood (No. 70, No. 18 SF), Mallette (No. 74, No. 12 SG), and Holloway (No. 110, No. 10 CG) are highly-regarded too.
‘Bama also brings in the No. 3 class in the nation per On3’s 2024 Industry Basketball Team Recruiting Rankings. All four are four-star talents and each rank in the Top-50 of On3’s Industry Ranking.
As for departures, the Crimson Tide have lost seven in total this offseason. Aaron Estrada was out of eligibility at the end of the year after starting in all 37 games for his fourth school in five years. The remaining six all entered their names into the portal. Rylan Griffen (Kansas), Nick Pringle (South Carolina), Sam Walters (Michigan), and Davin Cosby (Wake Forest) have all committed elsewhere. Mohamed Wague and Kris Parker are still looking for new programs to play for to this point.
Dioubate proved to be a promising piece for Alabama with his play this season. He’s now coming back for another year with the Tide following this news out of Tuscaloosa today.