Bama Basketball Redshirt Freshman Enters Portal

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - The transfer portal losses have started for the Crimson Tide following Alabama's Elite Eight run in the NAA Tournament. The first is a redshirt freshman who did not play for Alabama in the 2024-2025 men's basketball season.

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ESPN's Jeff Borzello reports that Alabama redshirt freshman Naas Cinningham has entered the transfer portal after redshirting and not playing for Alabama in the 2024-2025 season.

Cunningham, a 6-foot-7, 175-pound forward, committed to Alabama as a member of the Crimson Tide's 2024 recruiting class alongside Derrion Reid, Aiden Sherrell, and Labaron Philon. He was a top-50 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, according to On3 Sports.

Originally from West Orange, New Jersey, Cunningham played his high school basketball at SoCal Academy, where he shot 34 percent from the three-point line.

247 Sports' Eric Bossi wrote on Cunningham as a high school prospect:

"Cunningham is a long and athletic wing who has very good size for a small forward. He possesses tremendous lateral quickness, can handle the ball a bit and has a pretty good looking jumper. Playing in the summer with the NY Rens, he shot nearly 34% from beyond the three-point line and has a good looking stroke that he can get off in a hurry. In transition, he is able to use his athleticism to be a dangerous lob threat or to just beat people from one end to the other. The physical tools to be an impact player at the high major level are all there.

Looking ahead, the areas where Cunningham needs to make strides are his consistency, his confidence and adding strength. When Cunningham is on, he looks like one of the most dangerous wings in the country because of his package of size, athleticism and ability to score inside or out. However, to this point you never quite know which Cunningham is going to show up. His production seems to yo-yo up and down, he can be beaten up a bit physically and he has a tendency to get down on himself. If he can gain some needed mass in the weight room, string together some consistent performances and get some confidence from his coaching staff then Cunningham has all of the tools in the world to be a real problem."

Naas Cunningham is the first Alabama basketball player to enter the transfer portal, but he may not be the last.

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_.