Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell announces return for 2024-2025 season
Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is choosing to return to the Crimson Tide for the 2024-2025 campaign, utilizing his additional year of eligibility.
Wrightsell Jr. took to social media to share a video to accompany his announcement, “Let’s run it back!!” is what he wrote to let the Crimson Tide faithful know he was taking another bite of the apple in college basketball.
While Wrightsell dealt with injuries throughout last season, he still averaged 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds for the Crimson Tide. It was his first season with the program, so he’ll be looking to make a bigger impact in 2024-2025.
Alabama will have designs on making a major run, after their trip to the Final Four last season. Latrell Wrightsell wants to be there for that, and that’s part of why he’s returning to Tuscaloosa for another season.
Rutgers transfer center Cliff Omoruyi to visit Alabama
Moreover, Wrightsell might soon have some serious help, as Rutgers transfer center Cliff Omoruyi will take a visit to Alabama this weekend, On3’s Joe Tipton has learned.
Omoruyi is one of the best available players in the NCAA transfer portal, with head coach Nate Oats getting his shot to host at the big man in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s run to the Final Four was a historic one for the program, reaching it for the first time in school history.
They did so without a traditional rim protector though, with both Grant Nelson and Nick Pringle playing the five at times. However, Nelson may be gone after declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility while Pringle entered the transfer portal himself. If Nelson keeps his name in the draft, true freshman Aiden Sherrell and likely returning forward Mohamed Wague will be the only two players on the roster 6-10 or taller.
Omoruyi would be a big addition for the Crimson Tide, filling a void they needed all last season despite the NCAA Tournament success. He averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game this season for Rutgers this past season.
Per the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings, Omoruyi is the No. 7 player to enter the portal at this point of the cycle. His ranking rises to No. 2 when talking about uncommitted players though, with FAU’s Johnell Davis being the only player higher.
Oats is looking for a true center to add to the roster and not many better out there at the current moment than Omoruyi.