Latrell Wrightsell injury update: Nate Oats provides latest on Alabama guard

Good news came to Tuscaloosa with Latrell Wrightsell receiving a medical waiver from the NCAA. He is eligible to play ahead of the 2025-2026 season. Nate Oats figures to have one of his more important players back on the roster as Alabama gears up to make a run.

However, Wrightsell is still battling through his original injury. Oats provided an update on Wednesday, saying the guard has not yet been cleared. Alabama still hopes to have him ready for when the regular season starts in early November.

“Alabama’s Latrell Wrightsell (achilles) has still not been cleared for all basketball-related activities, but hopes to be available for the start of the 2025-26 season, per Nate Oats,” Jon Rothstein said via X. “Averaged 11.5 PPG in eight games last season prior to injury.”

This will be the third season Wrightsell has spent with Alabama. Had he not torn his Achilles, eligibility would have run up after last season. Oats certainly missed his shooting, though.

Rothstein mentioned the 11.5 points per game in eight games. Wrightsell was making 50% of his shots from the field and over 40% from the three-point line. There is arguably no deadlier shooter from deep in the SEC than Wrightsell.

Putting up similar numbers for Alabama would be a massive boost moving forward. After all, Oats does believe this year’s squad has the chance to be one of his best — from a shooting perspective — since taking over the program.

“We’re going to have a really good shooting team, maybe the best shooting team we’ve had since I’ve been there,” Oats said. “There’s shooting everywhere. Our bigs can shoot. Everybody in the front court. Really, there’s not a non-shooter on the floor. We should have shooting everywhere. Our defense is going to have to get a little bit better, but we’re going to have good versatility and good shooting next year.”

Oats has put together a grueling nonconference schedule for Alabama this season, as usual. And then SEC play will unfold as the league comes off a historic season. Tests are going to be flying on a nightly basis and across different parts of the country.

Making sure Wrightsell is back healthy will be a big storyline moving forward. For now, no activities that are basketball-related are ongoing. A torn Achilles can be a tricky situation at times, not wanting to have anything linger once back on the court.