After a career year alongside AAC coach of the year, Amir Abdur-Rahim, combo-guard Chris Youngblood has announced he will be heading back to his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, transferring to the Alabama Crimson Tide to play under another one of the best coaches in the nation, Nate Oats, who has the Tide coming off a Final Four appearance.
Chris Youngblood’s commitment video:pic.twitter.com/I1gR0hVLjq
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) April 15, 2024
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound guard will get to play in front of family as well as contend for a national championship in one of the top leagues in college basketball, the SEC. Chris Youngblood’s journey from the start of his collegiate career at Kennesaw State until now is extraordinary.
Youngblood left Kennesaw State alongside head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, and both went to South Florida before the start of the last season. Rahim quickly reversed the tide on the USF basketball program. They moved from a below-.500 club a year ago to the regular-season conference champs with a 25-8 record (16-2 AAC) and just missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid due to not having enough quad one and two wins. However, they did obtain an NIT bid.
Chris Youngblood was able to achieve Co-Player of the Year honors in the American Athletic Conference and proved why he is more than capable of playing for a program like Alabama, wanting to enhance his abilities with aspirations of going to the next level.
Youngblood was the impetus for South Florida, averaging 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 45.8 FG%, and shooting 41.6% from the three-point line. His game has been honed more and more each year, and now he makes a major move to the SEC, where he will get to be coached by one of the finest in Oats.
