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Bama's backcourt in place
Waiver approved for Wrightsell's additional season, which gives Crimson Tide one of the elite guard trios in sport. Plus: Washington signs a familiar name, looking at Team USA's U19 roster, NCAA rule changes (and what's next) and more.
Mike Miller
June 24, 2025
Good morning! Good luck if you’re in that heat dome today. Stay inside and get caught up on hoops instead.
Let's get to Monday’s college basketball news.
1. Latrell Wrightsell officially cleared for next season
The nation’s best backcourt next season might be in Tuscaloosa — especially now that Latrell Wrightsell’s request for a medical redshirt waiver was approved.
The 6-3 guard only played eight games in 2024-25 before injuring his Achilles in late November. He’d been expecting to play next season, but until he got word on Monday, he wasn’t counting on it.
“A lot of people are happy for me… I was a little nervous,” he told Yea Alabama. “I mean I’m always nervous and until something is final, and a lot of people said, ‘We’ve been telling you like it’s going to happen,’ but just trusting in (that) and finally getting the waiver has been a blessing.”
Wrightsell started 17 of 39 games over the last two seasons for Alabama. He averaged 11.5 points this season, has shot better than 42% from deep in both seasons, and is regarded as the Tide’s best perimeter defender.
Re-pairing him with Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway — two cat-quick, efficient guards who create scoring opportunities for themselves and others — cements the Tide among the teams to beat in the SEC. Among the best 2025-26 guard groups, it’s right there with Houston, UConn and Kentucky.
And if their frontcourt rebounds and defends? Alabama will be among Final Four contenders, too.
2. Washington adds a familiar name + more player moves
Example 1,283 that makes me feel old:
