Alabama Crimson Tide Pursuing Transfer Target Jalil Bethea for Next Season

The Alabama Crimson Tide’s 2023-2024 March Madness run came to a close on Saturday night, with a tough loss to top-seeded Duke. While head coach Nate Oats reflects on the season and looks ahead, one of his top priorities will be strengthening the roster through the transfer portal. A key player on Oats’ radar is Jalil Bethea, a former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, who has emerged as a top transfer target for Alabama.

Bethea, who played his freshman season at Miami, is currently weighing his options and has narrowed down his choices to four schools: Miami, Alabama, NC State, and Kansas State. The Crimson Tide remain in the hunt, hoping to add Bethea’s scoring ability and potential to their roster for next season.

As of now, Bethea is ranked as the No. 18 overall player in the transfer portal by 247Sports. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, ranked as the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 3 shooting guard in the 2024 recruiting class. In his freshman year at Miami, Bethea averaged 7.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season, including scoring in double digits on nine occasions. If he stays at Miami, Bethea will likely be a key player for the Hurricanes under their new head coach, Jai Lucas, who formerly served as an associate head coach at Duke.

However, Bethea’s recruitment is far from over. Oats previously hosted the talented guard on a visit before he ultimately committed to Miami, and the two are expected to meet again soon. The Crimson Tide will be hoping that a renewed connection and Alabama’s program could be the deciding factor in Bethea’s decision.

Alabama is facing some departures, with key player Mark Sears graduating, and Labaron Philon possibly entering the NBA Draft. The Crimson Tide will need to find reinforcements, particularly in the backcourt, and Bethea would be an ideal addition. The team is also in competition with a number of other schools for Bethea’s services. Florida, Ohio State, Memphis, Kansas, Seton Hall, St. Joseph’s, and VCU are among the other programs that have reached out to the talented guard.

With an eye on next season, Coach Oats and the Crimson Tide will be looking to secure a commitment from Bethea, which could go a long way in solidifying their roster as they continue to build a championship-contending team.