Alabama basketball’s 2024-25 lineup continues to take shape, with a key player announcing his return on Tuesday.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr., a guard with one year of eligibility, will spend it in Tuscaloosa playing under Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide. He revealed his decision on social media.
“Let’s run it back!” Wrightsell, affectionately known as Trelly by his teammates, made a post on X. He had the greatest 3-point shooting percentage on the squad, with 44.7%. In fact, after spending roughly half of the season with the Cal State Fullerton transfer, Oats regarded Wrightsell as one of the best shooters he had ever coached.
Wrightsell averaged 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds while playing 23.7 minutes per game. He started 12 games, 11 of which came in the latter stretch of conference play and postseason. Wrightsell played an important role in UA’s four-guard lineup, providing spacing. Alabama was 10-0 when Wrightsell scored 10 or more points.
Wrightsell’s best performance came in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Wrightsell halted a team shooting drought against Charleston by hitting five three-pointers, finally taking the open shots Oats had pressed him to all season. Wrightsell was sidelined for the majority of the Tide’s Final Four journey.
On March 24, against Grand Canyon, Wrightsell tumbled to the ground on a block attempt, aggravating a head ailment that had held him out of SEC action coming into the conference tournament. He traveled with UA to Los Angeles and then Phoenix. He had six points in 31 minutes against Connecticut.
With Wrightsell’s comeback, UA now has at least one confirmed starting from the previous lineup. Nick Pringle and Rylan Griffen are transferring. Mark Sears has declared for the NBA Draft while remaining eligible. Fans are still waiting for Grant Nelson’s decision. Wrightsell is a plug-and-play wing who has the potential to become a top scorer in the SEC if he spends the entire season starting.
Wrightsell can assist the Tide’s next wave of transfers in learning Oats’ system. Guards Aden Holloway (Auburn), Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), and Chris Youngblood (USF) will be tasked with making effective shots, the majority of which will be 3-pointers. UA welcomes three forwards from its high school recruiting class, which 247Sports rates third in the nation after factoring for the three transfers.
