An Alabama Freshman is Rising Like the Tide
After a strong spring scrimmage, five-stars Brandon Miller (otherwise known as David Diaz Herrero) and Jaden Bradley looked to be the key freshman contributors for Alabama this upcoming season. However, four-star forward Noah Clowney has stepped up to be a possible key piece in the Tide's rotation.
The Roebuck, S.C., native was ranked No. 74 in the country coming out of Dorman High School. Clowney was highly touted, receiving offers from prestigious programs such as Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Indiana, and his eventual school of choice Alabama. Clowney is a part of a top-three class that includes Brandon Miller, Jaden Bradley, the top junior college player Nick Pringle, and 4-star Rylan Griffen.
Clowney first started to reveal his improvement during Alabama's open practice on July 30, 2022. Clowney dropped 21 points and featured his ability to knock down a shot from anywhere on the court. During the Tide's foreign tour, Clowney showcased his potential to be a 2-way big man displaying elite defense, scoring, and rebounding. All three are a category the Tide lacked in the past season
Clowney has gone from a recruiting afterthought to an ascending name in college basketball. His ability to stretch the floor and play first-class defense should prove to be vital for the Tide this season.
The 6'10 forward is looking to be a key rotation player for the Tide this season. Joining a fairly fresh Alabama squad with only five returning scholarship players (including former Texas Tech transfer Nimari Burnett who missed all of the 2021-22 season with an ACL injury), Clowney is set to help change the tide for this Alabama program.