Noah Williamson, a 7-foot player, has committed to Alabama. This previous season, Noah, a transfer center from Bucknell, won the Patriot League Player of the Year award. Noah scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds on average every game. Noah ought to provide Alabama with much-needed assistance in the areas of height and length.

When the Alabama Crimson Tide took the floor during the 2024-25 season, there was no mistaking their identity — fast-paced, guard-heavy, perimeter-oriented, and a bit undersized in the paint. While Nate Oats’ system thrives on tempo and spacing, even the most dynamic up-tempo schemes can falter without an interior anchor. That’s why the commitment of Noah Williamson — a 7-foot transfer center from Bucknell and reigning Patriot League Player of the Year — is generating such a buzz in Tuscaloosa.

Williamson, who averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds per game last season, is bringing more than size to Alabama. He’s bringing polish, experience, and a shot at solving the Tide’s most pressing roster issue — a lack of length and post presence.

In recent years, Nate Oats has revolutionized Alabama basketball with a style that prioritizes spacing, pace, and three-point volume. The results have been largely positive — deep tournament runs, SEC championships, and a surge in national relevance. However, the past season exposed a critical vulnerability: the absence of consistent rim protection and post scoring.

Alabama often deployed small-ball lineups out of necessity, not design. Charles Bediako’s departure left a hole at center that was never adequately filled, and while Alabama held its own against many SEC foes, physical frontcourts often exploited them in key moments. The result? Rebounding struggles, interior defensive lapses, and limited offensive versatility against teams with true bigs.

Enter Noah Williamson.

The 7-footer not only addresses these deficiencies but gives Oats the flexibility to mix styles — pairing modern spacing with a traditional anchor in the paint. With Williamson’s commitment, Alabama suddenly becomes much more dangerous in multiple dimensions.

Williamson’s résumé at Bucknell speaks for itself. A dominant force in the Patriot League, he claimed the 2024-25 Player of the Year honors thanks to a stellar season in which he averaged 17.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. His impact was felt on both ends — controlling the glass, altering shots, and serving as a go-to offensive option in the halfcourt.

His efficiency was notable as well. Williamson shot 58% from the field and converted over 72% of his free throws, making him a reliable finisher and a late-game option — not always common for big men. Though the Patriot League isn’t the SEC, the skills he showcased translate. His footwork, touch, and timing — particularly in pick-and-roll sets — make him a weapon Alabama sorely lacked last year.

While Alabama continues to attract top-tier guards and wings through the transfer portal and recruiting trail, landing a legitimate big man has often proved more difficult. Williamson’s decision to join the Crimson Tide was the product of a recruiting push that focused not only on need but fit.

“He’s not just a big body,” said an assistant close to the program. “He understands the game, runs the floor, communicates on defense, and can stretch the floor a bit when needed. We weren’t looking for a statue — we needed mobility and intelligence, and Noah has both.”

Williamson’s lateral quickness and ability to switch defensively will be tested in the SEC, but his film at Bucknell shows a big man who embraces team concepts and rarely gets caught out of position. That’s critical in Oats’ scheme, which often asks its bigs to defend in space and make quick reads in transition.

Another underrated aspect of Williamson’s addition is his maturity. At 22, he brings experience to a locker room that will likely feature younger, high-upside talent at other positions. His presence, both vocally and in practice habits, is expected to set a tone.

“He’s already talking like a captain,” one Alabama source said. “Guys respect what he’s done, and he’s not coming in with an ego. He wants to win, and he’s been a workhorse from Day 1.”

Williamson’s work ethic was often cited by Bucknell staff and teammates alike. After an injury-riddled freshman year, he reshaped his body, adding lean muscle and cutting body fat to improve his mobility and stamina. The results were clear: his minutes, production, and impact all rose dramatically during his junior season, culminating in league MVP honors.

That transformation — and the grind behind it — will carry weight in a competitive Alabama program striving to stay among the nation’s elite.

On the offensive end, Williamson adds something Alabama hasn’t consistently had under Oats: a reliable post option. While the Tide’s offense remains built around spacing and tempo, the presence of a center who can score with his back to the basket gives them a counterpunch against zone defenses and when perimeter shots aren’t falling.

Williamson is not just a traditional post-up big either. At Bucknell, he often initiated offense from the high post, showing a soft touch on mid-range jumpers and a knack for finding cutters. His passing from the elbow and willingness to screen and re-screen opens up possibilities in Oats’ playbook.

“He’s very versatile offensively,” Oats noted in a statement. “He’s someone who can play in the pick-and-roll, post up smaller defenders, and keep the ball moving. That kind of IQ and skill set is hard to find in a guy that size.”

The Tide can now run more diverse actions — including horn sets, high-low looks, and even inside-out spacing that forces double-teams and creates open threes. In effect, Williamson helps modernize Alabama’s offense while simultaneously bringing a classic element back into the mix.

With Williamson in the fold, Alabama’s frontcourt rotation becomes far more formidable. Depending on further portal additions or returns from players like Jarin Stevenson or Mo Dioubate, the Crimson Tide could trot out a deeper, more balanced lineup capable of matching up with any style of play.

Against athletic, pace-heavy teams, Williamson may see rotational minutes. Against bruising post-centric squads — like Tennessee or Arkansas — he could be the linchpin that swings the paint battle in Alabama’s favor. His ability to control the glass and offer rim protection gives Alabama a security blanket that was noticeably missing last year.

Beyond the tactical advantages, Williamson’s presence also impacts recruiting. Oats can now pitch a program that utilizes and develops true big men — a message that resonates with prospects and their families. Alabama becomes even more appealing as a place where modern basketball meets positional development across the board.

That said, the transition from the Patriot League to the SEC will come with challenges. The speed, physicality, and depth of the SEC are another level entirely. Williamson will need to adjust to more athletic opponents, tighter defensive rotations, and longer scouting reports.

Still, there’s reason to believe he can make the leap. He has the frame, skill set, and basketball intelligence to contribute immediately. With proper strength training, diet, and coaching under Oats’ staff, the path is laid for him to flourish.

The staff’s early confidence in Williamson’s development trajectory speaks volumes. They’re not bringing him in to sit — they expect him to play, produce, and raise the program’s ceiling.

In many ways, Noah Williamson’s commitment to Alabama is emblematic of the current college basketball landscape — and of how programs like Alabama are adapting. He’s a mid-major star seeking a grander stage, and Alabama is a high-major power filling key gaps through the portal with eyes on championship contention.

It’s a match of ambition and opportunity.

For Williamson, it’s a chance to showcase his talents against the best, to push his limits, and to prove he belongs on the biggest stages in college basketball. For Alabama, it’s a strategic acquisition that could help tip the balance in high-stakes matchups come March.

The Crimson Tide aren’t lacking talent. They’re not short on scoring, athleticism, or swagger. But they’ve needed size. They’ve needed grit inside. They’ve needed a presence that could alter games without needing the spotlight.

Now, they’ve got Noah Williamson.

And with him comes the possibility that Alabama’s next deep run might look just a little bit different — grounded in height, anchored in length, and centered around a 7-foot Patriot League MVP ready to rise to the SEC challenge.