Alabama Men’s Basketball Transfer Portal: Alabama Among Early Candidates for Two SEC Transfers

The men's basketball transfer portal won't officially open until Tuesday, April 7, but players have already begun announcing their intentions to transfer from their current program, including Alabama men's basketball forward Taylor Bol Bown earlier on Monday.

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Kentucky guard Jasper Johnson and Tennessee forward Cade Phillips are two players who have already announced they plan to leave their current program, and the Crimson Tide is an early team to watch for both, according to On3's Jaime Shaw and Joe Tipton.

Johnson, a former top-25 recruit, standing at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds, spent one season with Kentucky, averaging 4.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 40% from the floor and 34.1% from three-point range in 35 game appearances for the Wildcats last season. Alabama was heavily involved in his recruitment, and many close to his recruitment considered the Crimson Tide as the runner-up to Kentucky originally. Shaw and Tipton report that they expect Alabama to be involved again with the likely departure of Labaron Philon to the NBA, and guards Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Houston Mallette exhausting their eligibility after the 2025-26 season.

Tennessee junior forward Cade Phillips, standing at 6-foot-9 and 221 pounds, also announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. He started nine games, with 10 appearances for the Volunteers in the 2025-26 season, before his season got cut short due to a left shoulder injury, and he was ruled out for the season on December 8 after undergoing surgery. In his 10 appearances, the Jacksonville, Alabama, native played 16.9 minutes per game, averaging 3.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game while shooting 65.4% from the floor. Shaw and Tipton report that Alabama is an early school to watch for Phillips, as he has connections with the Crimson Tide. His dad, John David Phillips, and his uncle, Brodie Croyle, played quarterback at Alabama. Meanwhile, his mom, Regan Croyle Phillips, played basketball in Tuscaloosa.

The transfer portal will officially open on Tuesday, April 7, and will remain open until April 21. Johnson and Phillips won't be the only players Alabama targets, but On3 reports that the Crimson Tide is an early school to watch for both prospects.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.