Alabama freshman forward Jarin Stevenson among early entrants for 2024 NBA Draft

After just one season with the Crimson Tide, Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson is now one of the early entrants for the 2024 NBA Draft. Also joined by teammate and senior guard Mark Sears on the list of 195 prospects who have filed as early candidates for the upcoming draft.

Jackson and Sears still have the decision to withdraw their names from the field and retain their college eligibility as long as they do so before Wednesday, May 29. Now given a month to receive feedback from the league after declaring for the upcoming NBA Draft in June.

Stevenson has not publicly declared for the NBA Draft, but his name being featured on the NBA’s official list of early-entry candidates reveals that he has. Potentially reinforcing the idea that Stevenson is simply testing the waters and anticipating a return to Tuscaloosa for his sophomore season.

In his true freshman year with the Crimson Tide, Stevenson appeared in 37 games and made five starts. Averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while also having a multitude of notable moments. Scoring in double figures six times last season including in three of the first four games of his college career and in the NCAA Tournament. Scoring a career-high 19 points in an Elite Eight win over Clemson to help the Crimson Tide advance to their first Final Four in program history after burying five three pointers against the Tigers.

“Shoot, season high in the biggest game of his life, hit big shot after big shot, made tough play after tough play. He grew up tonight,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said following the Clemson game. “Shoot, 19 points on 11 shots is pretty efficient basketball. Super proud of Jarin.”

Stevenson was a highly-touted high school prospect who surely has the potential to make it to the next level. With the 6-foot-11, 210-pound forward named the 2023 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in high school with a father who had a standout basketball career at Richmond prior to playing professionally for over a decade.

Stevenson played high school basketball at Seaforth High School in Pittsboro (NC) where he was a four-star prospect. Ranked the No. 24 overall recruit and the No. 4 power forward in the country along with being the top player in the state for the 2023 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

It will be fascinating to see if Stevenson decides to make the jump to the NBA this offseason, as Crimson Tide fans will now be on the edges of their seats in hopes of his return to the program.