Latrell Wrightsell reveals 'harder decision' looming on future at Alabama: 'It's still an ongoing process'

After Alabama’s run to the Final Four a year ago, Latrell Wrightsell chose to run it back along with other big names in Tuscaloosa. As for whether one more go-round could be in the cards, he admitted it will be a “harder decision.”

Wrightsell said the biggest factors in his decision to come back to Alabama this year was that Grant Nelson and Mark Sears also did so. However, Wrightsell is out with an Achilles injury and will try for a medical redshirt, which would give him another year of eligibility. He could run it back in Tuscaloosa, enter the transfer portal or turn professional.

His decision won’t be as cut-and-dry this time, though. Wrightsell said he’s working through an “ongoing process” about what his future will look like.

“To run back what we had, and me, Grant (Nelson) and Mark (Sears) sitting down together to talk about it, that was the biggest reason I came back (last year). It’s going to be a harder decision this time, because a lot of the guys I went through so much with are leaving,” Wrightsell said, via the Tuscaloosa News’ Chase Goodbread. “So it’s definitely going to be a bigger decision, and a much harder decision, that I’ll have to weigh with a lot more pros and a lot more cons to it. It’s still an ongoing process, and it’s still up in the air right now.”

Latrell Wrightsell was averaging 11.5 points per game at the time of his injury, which came in a loss to Oregon in November. He was a key role player last season at Alabama after transferring from Cal State Fullerton, appearing in 31 games and making 12 starts. During that time, he averaged 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds to help the Crimson Tide make their first-ever Final Four appearance.

Alabama got a scare in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament against Robert Morris, but eventually came away with the victory to advance to the Round of 32. The Crimson Tide will now take on St. Mary’s with a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on the line, and Nelson’s health is at the forefront of the conversation.

Nelson suffered a leg injury during the SEC Tournament and his status was up in the air for Friday’s opener. He entered the game late to help seal Alabama’s victory, and Nate Oats said it was Nelson’s choice to check in.

“When he told me he was ready, I think he sensed it like ‘Oh, we can’t afford to lose this.’ He stood up like (he was saying) ‘Put me in,’” Oats told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein during a postgame interview. “We were trying to get out of that game without playing him, but it does us no good if he doesn’t play and we go home.”