Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell injury update: Nate Oats addresses return timetable for Alabama standouts

Alabama head coach Nate Oats expects Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell and Aiden Sherrell to play in the team’s season opener against UNC Asheville, per Jon Rothstein. Nelson, Wrightsell and Sherrell did not play in Alabama’s preseason exhibition against Wake Forest on Friday.

Oats also said Wrightsell may be back for Alabama’s preseason scrimmage against Memphis on Oct. 28. However, he doesn’t expect Sherrell to suit up until the Crimson Tide’s season opener.

Alabama will surely welcome its three standouts back with open arms when they’re available. Nelson transferred to Alabama last offseason after spending three years at North Dakota State.

In his debut campaign with the Crimson Tide, Grant Nelson started in all 37 of his appearances, averaging 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field.

Wrightsell also transferred into the program last season and made an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide. In 31 appearances and 12 starts, Wrightsell averaged 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, connecting on 44.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Unlike Nelson and Wrightsell, Sherrell has no prior collegiate experience and was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Expectations are high for Sherrell as he was the No. 23 overall player in his class.

Alabama puts on a clinic against Wake Forest

Although the Crimson Tide missed Nelson, Wrightsell and Sherrell on Friday against Wake Forest, they didn’t show it. Alabama dominated the Demon Deacons, securing a 98-77 win. Auburn transfer Aden Holloway led all scorers with 20 points.

He was far from the only standout for Alabama, with six players on the team scoring double figures. In the win, the Crimson Tide tallied 24 assists on 30 made field goals. Oats was happy with his team’s performance.

“It was good to get this group out together for the first time,” Oats said after the exhibition. “We didn’t have four of our guys, but I thought we had enough of them to kind of see how we want to play. I thought the defensive intensity was better than what we had seen at points last year.

“I thought it had some lapses. But I thought the play [Mark] Sears made – he kind of stood the guy up, got a steal and then they fouled him getting out. I thought the play Derrion Reid made with the block, the save and then we get the block on the other end. Those effort plays are what we’re trying to be about.”