Official: Alabama basketball adds five players to 2024 signing class

Head coach Nate Oats announced that Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, Clifford Omoruyi, Labaron Philon and Chris Youngblood signed to continue their playing career with the Alabama men’s basketball program. These five transfers join a signing class that includes five-star prospects Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell as well as four-star Naas Cunningham.

2024 NLI Signing Class Notes

• Ranked as the No. 2 overall signing class, according to 247Sports, and No. 3 by On3 and Rivals
• Fourth consecutive top-15 signing class for head coach Nate Oats since arriving on campus
• First time in program history UA has had four straight top-15 signing classes

Nate Oats on 2024 Signing Class: “I am thrilled with the players we brought in and the value they will add to our program. I am proud of our coaching staff in being able to add veteran leadership along with the talent of our incoming freshmen who have all played in big and meaningful games. We are excited to welcome both them and their families to the Alabama basketball program.” 

Aden Holloway | So. | G | 6-1 | 178 | Charlotte, N.C. (Auburn/Prolific Prep)

• A 2024 SEC All-Freshman Team selection
• Played in all 35 games including 26 starts as a freshman last season
• Averaged 7.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game
• Made 52 three-pointers, which ranked No. 9 for most three-pointers made by a freshman in Auburn history
• Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11
• Scored a season-high 24 points on Dec. 9 vs. Indiana
• A 2023 McDonald’s High School All-American
• The No. 6 point guard prospect in the class of 2023

Nate Oats on Aden Holloway: “Coming out of high school as a McDonald’s All-American, Aden was one of the best shooting point guards in the country, all throughout his high school career. He has the ability to shoot it from deep, while being able to get into the paint and make plays. Defensively he can guard and keep people in front of him. He has a very special brand of skill, talent and hard work.”

Houston Mallette | Sr. | G | 6-5 | 185 | Alameda, Calif. (Pepperdine/Pacifica Christian High School)

• Named to the 2024 All-WCC Honorable Mention squad
• Named to the 2022 All-WCC Freshman Team
• Scored 1,295 career points in his three seasons at Pepperdine
• Played in 94 games including 90 starts for the Waves
• Scored double figures in 61 collegiate games, including 22 times during his junior campaign
• Scored a career-high 31 points on Nov. 22 vs. Indiana State
• Ranked No. 5 in the WCC in scoring (14.7 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (42.0) in 2024

Nate Oats on Houston Mallette: “Houston is such a versatile guard with length and has unique play making skills. He can guard one through four and is a knock down shooter. He can make the open shots, get his teammates involved being a combo guard and make a multitude of plays due to his IQ on the court. Like all of our signees, he has a great team-first mindset and will be a great two-way player.”

Clifford Omoruyi | Gr. | C | 6-11 | 240 | Benin City, Nigeria | Rutgers/Roselle Catholic

• A three-time All-Big Ten honoree (2022-24) including twice earning First Team All-Defense (2023-24)
• A finalist for the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation’s top center
• Became the first Rutgers player to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots since Keith Hughes did so in the 1990-1991 season (10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.9 bpg)
• Ranks fourth all-time in Rutgers program history in career field goal percentage (.549) and rebounds (933) and sixth in blocks (221)
• Recorded 93 blocks in 2024, which ranked sixth for most by a Rutgers player in a single season and the most by a Big ten player since 2018
• Scored 1,251 points throughout his career at Rutgers
• Was the first Big Ten first player to record at least nine rebounds, eight blocks and seven points in a Big Ten game since Penn State’s Mike Watkins in 2017

Nate Oats on Clifford Omoruyi: “Cliff has arguably been one of the best shot blockers in the country and in the Big Ten over the last 25 years. He is a guy that will anchor our defense and has a great offensive skillset that we will be able to showcase. He is an exceptional athlete with a 7’6 wingspan and overall an elite athlete that will be a great addition to our team.”

Labaron Philon | Fr. | G | 6-4 | 177 | Mobile, Ala. (Link Academy)

• Ranked as the No. 30 overall recruit by ESPN, No. 32 by 247Sports and No. 33 by On3 in the class of 2024
• Ranked as the No. 5 point guard in the 2024 class by On3
• Finished his high school career at Link Academy in Missouri
• Originally from Mobile, Ala., Philon was named Mr. Basketball while at Baker High School
• In his final season at Baker, Philon averaged 35.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game in 2022-23.
• A two-time Class 7A Player of the Year, Philon scored 2,334 points in his three seasons at Baker
• Was AAU teammates with fellow Crimson Tide freshman Derrion Reid for Team Thad in 2023
• Averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists on the Nike EYBL Circuit for Team Thad

Nate Oats on Labaron Philon: “Labaron is an explosive combo guard that is dynamic in the open floor and can play above the rim. He shot over 40 percent from three in his high school career and is a tenacious competitor and we are excited to him have in our program.”

Chris Youngblood | Gr. | G | 6-4 | 218 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. (South Florida/Kennesaw State/East Coweta High School)

• Named American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year last season, becoming South Florida’s first Player of the year since 1983 (Charlie Bradley)
• Led South Florida to its first-ever regular season conference title with a 25-8 overall record and a 16-2 record in the AAC
• Played in all 33 games for USF including 32 starts averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest
• Shot 41.6 percent from three-point range and 45.8 percent from the field
• Scored double-figures in 27 games including eight games scoring 20-points or more
• Scored a season-high 29 points on March 5 vs. Tulane
• Scored 1,227 points in three seasons at Kennesaw State (2021-23)
• Was a First Team All-ASUN selection and NABC First Team All-District 3 honoree in 2023
• Led Kennesaw State to the 2023 NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history
• In his final season at Kennesaw State Youngblood averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game
• A 2021 ASUN All-Freshman Team selection

Nate Oats on Chris Youngblood: “Chris is a proven winner who was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year who is a knock down shooter and an unbelievable shooter of the catch. He is an exceptional downhill driver who can make explosive plays at the rim and is a relentless worker.” 

*** This information was acquired from a recent press release from Alabama Athletics. 

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