Nate Oats Comments on Alabama Basketball's 2024 Signing Class
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With the early signing period now open, Alabama basketball signed both of its current commitments in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
The first to sign was Aiden Sherrell, a 6-foot-11 forward/center from Detroit, Michigan who committed to the Crimson Tide back in September.
Sherrell is rated as a 5-star by multiple recruiting services and plays high school basketball at Prolific Prep in California.
"We've been recruiting Aiden Sherrell for a long time," Oats told reporters on Thursday. "In my opinion, he's the best big in the country for how we want to play. We targeted him early, it helps that he's from Detroit originally, I knew a lot of his people up there. He's 6-11, moves great, can play on the perimeter, shoots the ball well, lob target."
The second signee of Alabama's recruiting class is 6-foot-7 wing Naas Cunningham, who committed to the Crimson Tide last Tuesday after completed his visit over the weekend.
Cunningham is currently rated as a 4-star, and was at one point ranked as the top overall player in the class.
"Naas Cunningham's one of the most skilled big guards/wings in the country," Oats said. "We've done really well with those types here lately, back to Herb Jones, [Josh] Primo, Keon Ellis. [...] He's skilled, athletic, he's got to put some weight on, but we've taken guys like that in the past. I think he's got big upside."
Though Alabama signed its only currently committed players, the Crimson Tide still has the chance to reel in more commitments as the season goes on.
"If we could, sign two to three more, if we don't, we'll go get some kids in the portal," Oats said "We've done really well in the portal because those guys in the portal want to play in a system like we're playing."
Naas Cunningham | G | 6-7 | 180 | WEST ORANGE, N.J. (Southern California Academy)
- A four-star prospect, rated as the No. 44 player in the country and the No. 15 small forward the country by On3
- Played in Overtime Elite League for the Cold Hearts where he averaged 14.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game
- Played for the NY Renaissance program on the Nike EYBL Circuit going into his junior year, and averaged 11.6 points per game
- Was also named one of 16 finalists for the 2021 USA U16 National Team.
- Chose Alabama over Duke, Missouri, Rutgers and West Virginia, among many others
Aiden Sherrell | F | 6-10 | 225 | DETROIT, Mich. (Prolific Prep)
- A five-star prospect, rated as the No. 2 power forward in the country by Rivals and the No. 14 player in the country by On3
- Averaged 18.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in the Overtime Elite League
- On the Nike EYBL Circuit, Sherrell averaged 13.0 points and 5.2 rebounds with Vegas Elite
- Chose Alabama over Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and UNLV, among many others
