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Labaron Philon withdraws from NBA draft, will return to Alabama

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby: Charlie Potter05/29/25Charlie_Potter
Alabama guard Labaron Philon
Alabama guard Labaron Philon (Courtesy of UA Athletics)

The Alabama men’s basketball team received huge news on Wednesday night, as the school’s NIL collective announced that guard Labaron Philon would return for the 2025-26 season. 

Philon went through the NBA draft process and even told ESPN that he would remain in the 2025 draft, but according to Yea Alabama, he will withdraw his name and play for Nate Oats.

Philon later confirmed the news via his personal Instagram account.

The deadline for players to withdraw their names from the 2025 NBA Draft was Wednesday, May 28, at 10:59 p.m. CT. Philon’s announcement, via Yea Alabama, occurred at 10:31 p.m.

With Philon reversing course and coming back to college, Alabama has its point guard for next season. Philon will be one of five returning players from last season’s Elite Eight team.

Philon started 29 games as a true freshman in 2024-25 and averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from 3-point range and 76.7 percent at the free-throw line. He scored in double figures 21 times, including a couple of 21-point games. Philon was an SEC All-Freshman Team selection.

“He just kept finding his way onto the floor,” Oats said last month. “He kept making us better. What I told him is, ‘You’ve got a chance here, and if we’re better with you on the floor, we’re gonna put you on the floor.’ And we were better with him on the floor most of the year.

“He’s tough. He’s super competitive. That’s the best thing he’s got going, is he’s just ultra competitive. But he’s got good size for a point guard. He knows how to set teammates up. He’s got a high IQ. And his skill level’s high. He needs to turn himself into a little bit better shooter, but he’s not a bad shooter. He can score it at a high level. 

“And he’s young. His shot’s good. So with the reps that he’ll put in, he’ll turn himself into a really good shooter, and he’s got all the other stuff they’re looking for.”

Alabama currently has 12 scholarship basketball players on its roster for the 2025-26 season.

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