Dec. 12, 2025, 1:44 p.m. CT
- Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was a prime recruiting goal for Alabama basketball.
- Alabama coach Nate Oats praised Burries as a gifted participant who could possibly be a future skilled.
- Burries is averaging 11.3 factors per sport for the top-ranked Arizona workforce.
About eight months in the past, Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was contemplating lending his skills to Alabama basketball.
In March, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard gushed to a number of retailers about how a lot he preferred the Crimson Tide‘s fashion of play. Getting out and operating the ground. Hitting threes. Being surrounded by sharpshooters.
“Mark Sears is leaving, so that they see me taking his spot,” Burries informed 247Sports. That remark got here earlier than Labaron Philon Jr. had even declared for the NBA Draft in April, the identical month that Burries put inked his dedication to Arizona.
As soon as in line to inherit the purpose from the All-American who took the Crimson Tide to its first Ultimate 4, Burries was one among Alabama‘s prime prospects. One of many final probabilities this system had so as to add a 5-star to its 2025 recruiting class.
Granted Alabama’s rookie group of 4 4-stars — Amari Allen, Davion Hannah, London Jemison and Collins Onyejiaka — has exceeded expectations, there is no query as as to if Nate Oats wished the California child in that blend. All of the whereas, he knew the battle he was up in opposition to.
“We gave it our greatest shot,” Oats stated forward of No. 12 Alabama’s C.M. Newton Basic showdown in opposition to top-ranked Arizona (8-0).
“It was gonna be exhausting to get him to depart the West Coast, and that is what ended up taking place. He stayed nearer to dwelling,” Oats continued.
At Arizona, Burries was given the beginning nod on the prime of the season and has cemented his place within the lineup with a mean 11.3 factors, 2.9 boards and a pair of.4 assists per sport.
On Friday, Dec. 12, when requested if Burries has emerged because the participant that he anticipated him to be, Oats believed that Lloyd would have a greater reply as a result of Alabama (7-2) would’ve had Burries working in “a very completely different system.” Nonetheless, he ultimately bought all the way down to the basis of the query.
“After I watch him play, he is taking part in exhausting. He looks as if a terrific teammate. He is robust. We’re anxious about him as a result of he is an excellent gifted participant, and he is a child that may go off for 30 at any level,” Oats stated.
Burries has but to place collectively a 30-piece this season. His finest scoring efficiency was 20 factors in opposition to Denver, and in his most up-to-date outing in opposition to Auburn, he dropped 16 factors and 5 rebounds.
Oats is aware of, although. If Alabama does not comprise Burries, the first-year may attain a brand new private finest at Legacy Area in Birmingham.
“Our guards are totally conscious that he is one of the vital gifted children on the market. I believe ultimately, sooner or later, he will be a professional they usually’ve bought a number of guys which are going to play on the subsequent degree on the workforce,” Oats continued.
Alabama ideas off in opposition to Arizona at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN, which may be streamed by way of Fubo, Sling and ESPN+.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa Information. She may be reached by way of electronic mail at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
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