Nate Oats discusses value of adding Aaron Estrada: 'Don't have to beg your point guard to bring effort every day'

The entire Alabama men’s basketball program is going to look different this season. From players to the coaching staff, Nate Oats saw an incredible amount of turnover following two SEC titles last year. To build the roster back up, Oats relied on the NCAA transfer portal and one of his biggest additions was point guard Aaron Estrada.

Estrada is the two-time CAA Player of the Year, averaging 20.5 points per game last season while shooting 47.8% from the field. Oats is excited about the value he brings to Alabama, both on and off the court. The way he’s being described by Oats, you have to believe Estrada is the prototypical point guard for the system.

“He’s an unbelievable kid,” Oats said on Wednesday during SEC Basketball Media Day. “Great leader, plays hard. One of the hardest-working guys I have ever been around. His skill level is really high. We chart everything in practice. His at-the-rim finishing is as high as any guard I’ve ever had. … He shoots it well from three and he can be a great defender. So, he’s not missing much.”

One area of Estrada’s game warranted a longer response from Oats, talking about his effort on a daily basis. Sure, there can be bad days in practice from a play standpoint. Oats knows Estrada will bring it every day, and appeared to get a dig on a former Crimson Tide guard while making his point.

“Really, to be honest with you, one of the best things he does for our team is he brings it every day. Every single day, you know what you get from Aaron. He’s a hard-playing guy. He’s going to have some days where he shoots it better than others. … He is going to play hard and give everything he’s got every day. I think that makes us a whole lot better as a team,” Oats said.

“You don’t have to beg your point guard to bring effort every day. Between him and (Mark) Sears, I think those guards, (Latrell) Wrightsell, too, all three of those guys in the backcourt are everyday guys that just bring it every day, that sets the tone for your team. I think it allows you to have tough, gritty defensive-minded, blue-collar type of guys and a type of team like we want to have.”

With Estrada now in the program, the effort will be there on a daily basis. Maybe the change of pace is something Oats wanted out of the position as the hunt to win the school’s first national championship.