Alabama’s Top Recruit Derrion Reid Enters Transfer Portal After Injury-Plagued Season

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Alabama basketball forward Derrion Reid has officially entered the transfer portal after a challenging freshman season that involved significant injuries. Reid, who was regarded as one of the highest-ranked recruits in program history, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the year but made brief appearances in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

Reid played just 24 games throughout the 2024-25 season, averaging 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game. He recorded his most significant playing time against Duke in the Elite Eight, clocking 13 minutes after returning from an injury that sidelined him for a substantial portion of the latter half of SEC play.

Originally a McDonald’s All-American from Grovetown, Georgia, Reid was ranked as the highest recruit of head coach Nate Oats‘ tenure, even surpassing notable players like Brandon Miller and Colin Sexton, according to 247Sports. His departure leaves Alabama with four forwards lost from this past season, as Mouhamed Dioubate and Jarin Stevenson have also declared for the transfer portal while Grant Nelson’s eligibility expired.

“Derrion is a talented player with high potential,” Oats said. “We are disappointed to see him leave, but we wish him all the best moving forward.”

After Reid’s exit, Alabama now has two open roster spots, a situation that may evolve further depending on the decision of Labaron Philon, a standout freshman guard contemplating entering the NBA Draft. Philon averaged 10.6 points and 3.8 assists over the season, showcasing enough skill to warrant professional consideration.

Without Philon, Alabama could find itself short on lead guards, possibly impacting the team’s strategy next season. Currently, the Crimson Tide retains guards Aden Holloway, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., and Houston Mallette. Transfer additions include Miami guard Jalil Bethea and a pair of highly-rated incoming freshmen: London Jemison and Davion Hannah.

Despite the roster upheaval, Oats expressed hope in his strategy moving forward. “The Transfer Portal gives us an opportunity to build our roster more strategically, and we are confident that we can attract top talent,” he stated.

As the offseason progresses, Alabama fans can expect key roster updates as the team prepares for the 2025-26 campaign. A tracker for current and departing players will be regularly updated to assist in following the changes within the program.

A total of four players have now entered the transfer portal, joining Naas Cunningham, who redshirted last season, and Stevenson. Cunningham remains in the portal, while Dioubate has committed to SEC rival Kentucky.

“The landscape of college basketball is changing rapidly, and roster turnover is part of the game now,” Oats noted. “We’ll have to adapt and remain competitive.”

With just under two weeks remaining in the transfer portal window, Alabama is expected to explore new recruitment opportunities. Former players like Rylan Griffen, who briefly left the program for Kansas, may also figure into future recruitment strategies regarding players returning to Tuscaloosa.