Nate Oats and staff beefed up the Tide’s 2025 class on Friday when they added a 6-foot-10 Center from Boston, Massachusetts, who was previously in the 2026 class before reclassifying to the 2025 class on Friday.

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Collins Onyejiaka, who is a four-star center who was previously in the 2026 class where he was the No.92 overall prospect in the class and the No.2 player out of Massachusetts according to 247 Sports, before reclassifying on Friday where he officially committed to the Tide’s 2025 class which currently has eight signees, and ranks fourth in the nation and first in the SEC according to On3. Onyejiaka was in Tuscaloosa this past week on Wednesday, June 18, before making his decision on Friday.

Alabama’s 2025 Recruiting Class According to On3

• No.7 PF / London Jemison / 6-8 
• No.5 CG / Davion Hannah / 6-4 
• Four-Star SF / Amari Allen / 6-7
• Four-Star PG / Jalil Bethea / 6-6 (Transfer)
• No.9 SF / Taylor Bol Bowen / 6-9 (Transfer)
• Three-Star PF / Keitenn Bristow / 6-8 
• No.8 C / Noah Williamson / 7-0

Onyejiaka will join the Tide next season after dominating in his junior season at Newman in Boston where the 6-foot-10, 270 pound center dominated the competition with his physicality but does need to improve on his scoring from the perimeter according to 247 Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein’s scouting report on Onyejiaka where he wrote “Isn’t much of a scoring threat on the perimeter, and can lack solutions when not able to overpower the opposition.”

Finkelstein’s full report on Onyejiaka is “Onyejiaka is a major physical presence in the lane. He's long, strong, aggressive, and physically dominant inside the lane, primarily as a finisher, rebounder, post defender, and rim protector. He's close to maxed out physically, though, and needs to continue to polish his game. He misses a surprising amount of dunks for someone so physically dominant, isn't much of a scoring threat on the perimeter, and can lack solutions when not able to overpower the opposition.”

Oats has responded to the requests of the Alabama fan base with his recent additions from the transfer portal. Every player acquired is at least 6'4", including a 7-footer from Bucknell, Nick Williamson, who was named the Patriot League Player of the Year last season. Now the Tide has added a 6-foot-10 physical center who averaged 9.5 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocks per game during his junior season at Newman School. 

Onyejiaka will face tough competition if he hopes to earn playing time in his freshman year, especially with players like Aiden Sherrell and other recent transfer portal additions. The former member of the Tide’s 2026 class, who is now in Alabama’s 2025 class, could take on a role similar to that of Clifford Omuryi for the Tide. With Onyejiaka's large frame and physicality, he could be an effective rebounder for Oats' squad, which is known for shooting the three-ball frequently.

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