Since the transfer portal opened, teams have been in a very hectic cycle of upgrading their rosters or replacing exits. Head coaches can’t afford to relax, as any of their current players can decide to use the portal at any time, and a lack of proactiveness will lead to a disadvantage for the program.
Alabama basketball hasn’t been very active regarding incomings, but they did secure their first commitment from the portal this week.
Who’s In at Alabama?
The Crimson Tides announced the addition of Waiata Jennings from Baylor this week. Jennings spent the 24/25 season with the Bears, but spent the previous two years at Collins College, a junior college in Texas. When she was in JuCo, she earned multiple player of the year honors, including All-American honors in 2023 and 2024, and was named the WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year in 2024.
Jennings averaged 31.6 points per game for her JuCo program, alongside 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game. She set a school record with 2,024 points in two seasons.
She played 30 games for Baylor, averaging 2 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. She shot 34.2% from behind the arc.
“We are excited to have Waiata join our program. She has a diverse skill set, including her scoring ability and defensive prowess. The fact that you can add in playing experience playing at multiple collegiate levels will add a veteran presence in our program, so we expect her to be an immediate and valuable asset for us next year,” head coach Kristy Curry said.
Who’s Out at Alabama?
The Crimson Tides lost Ashlee Barker, Aaliyah Nye, and Zaay Green to the WNBA draft, and they have yet to replace them. There are still enough talents in the portal for Kristy Curry to explore. Alabama had three draftees this year, marking the first time the program will produce multiple draftees in a single year.
Barker, who was selected ninth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, spent five years with Alabama amd finished with 1,642 points. She became the fifth player in program history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 250 assists.
Aaliyah Nye was selected No. 13 overall by the Las Vegas Aces. In five seasons, she had 1,739 points and averaged 15.2 points per game. Zaay Green was selected 32nd overall by the Washington Mystics. She joined Alabama in 2024 for her final year of college eligibility. She led Alabama in total points in the 24/25 season.
KEEP READING: Sarah Ashlee Barker Scouting Report
These losses will leave a huge gap on the roster, and Alabama is expected to still hunt the portal for replacements.
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