Nate Oats hopeful to keep upping playing time for freshman center Aiden Sherrell
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama center Aiden Sherrell got more playing time in Tuesday’s win against Vanderbilt than he’s seen since the season-opener back in November. The freshman played 13 minutes off the bench in the 103-87 win, not scoring but grabbing five rebounds and dishing out two assists.
Alabama was +12 in minutes where Sherrell was on the floor.
Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats was complimentary of Sherrell’s play in his postgame press conference, and he was asked about Sherrell’s improvement on Friday ahead of the weekend’s game against LSU.
“I think he’s been great. Shoot, I thought he was one of our best players in practice today,” Oats said. “He’s a guy that had some knee issues, too. Trying to rehab him, get him fresh. He’s fought some injuries. Trying to learn the system, he was out for a long time in the fall. He missed a bunch, had to get back in shape. He’s a big guy, so it takes a little longer. He’s out biggest guy, tallest guy, weighs the most, so it took a little longer to get into playing shape, especially with the pace we play.”
Sherrell was a top-25 recruit in this past cycle and a McDonald’s All-American, being one of the highest rated recruits Alabama has ever signed. His offseason injuries held him out of much of the leadup to the season, including missing both of the Crimson Tide’s exhibition games in the month of October.
Averaging 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, Sherrell has made visible improvements over the course of his freshman season, getting more comfortable sharing the floor with legitimate high-major size and learning how to better carry his 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame.
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In addition to his physical improvements, Oats gave high praise for the mental side of Sherrell’s game.
“He’s coming. He’s figuring it out. He’s super smart, he knows the scouting report, knows the plays,” Oats said. “He’s a quiet kid, but he’s starting to speak up a little bit more. He knows what we’re supposed to be doing, he can direct guys, energy’s getting better and better.”
As Sherrell continues to improve, he’ll be a valuable asset for this Alabama bench whenever starting center Cliff Omoruyi needs a spell. Being able to play another true center off the bench allows players like Grant Nelson to continue to play their natural position at the four.
“Hopefully we can keep playing him some more minutes, I thought he was pretty good in his minutes the other night,” Oats said.
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