Alabama basketball makes finalists for 5-star, Top 15 recruit ahead of commitment date

One of the nation’s top remaining uncommitted basketball prospects in the 2025 recruiting cycle has officially set a commitment date, one that could be of interest to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Brayden Burries, a high school prospect who ranks among the top overall players nationally, has announced that he will be making his anticipated decision this Wednesday, April 9 at 12:45 p.m. ET. Alabama is one of the five finalists for Burries, with the Crimson Tide also joined by the Arizona Wildcats, Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers, and USC Trojans.

According to 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, Burries is currently considered as the nation’s No. 11 overall prospect, as well as the No. 3 player in the state of California where he attends Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Also a five-star prospect, Burries ranks as the No. 2 combo guard in the nation as well.

Alabama’s 2025 recruiting class currently ranks No. 9 nationally with a trio of four-star signees in London Jemison, Davion Hannah, and Amari Allen. Should he commit Wednesday, Burries would become the highest-rated of the group.

​The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing its roster through strategic recruiting, particularly focusing on securing commitments from five-star prospects. This approach has significantly elevated the team’s competitiveness on both national and conference levels.​

Recent Five-Star Commitments

In the 2024 recruiting cycle, Alabama achieved a significant milestone by securing a commitment from five-star forward Derrion Reid. Reid, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound small forward from Georgia, played his senior year at Prolific Prep in California. He chose Alabama over finalists Florida State and Georgia, with his decision announced on December 22, 2023. Reid’s commitment propelled Alabama’s recruiting class to a top-10 national ranking, underscoring the program’s growing prominence. ​

Similarly, in the 2025 cycle, Alabama secured a commitment from four-star guard Davion Hannah. Hannah, ranked No. 22 in the ESPN 100 for 2025, is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Milwaukee who plays at Link Academy in Missouri. He averaged 14.8 points and 4.5 rebounds with Team Herro on the Nike EYBL circuit, choosing Alabama over Cincinnati, Missouri, and Ohio State. Hannah’s commitment further bolstered Alabama’s recruiting efforts, adding to the team’s depth and talent. ​

Pursuit of AJ Dybantsa

Alabama’s recruiting efforts have also been focused on securing commitments from top-tier prospects such as AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa, a five-star small forward from Utah Prep in Utah, is ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class. In December 2024, he announced that Alabama was among his top four finalists, alongside BYU, Kansas, and North Carolina. Dybantsa’s father was observed attending Alabama’s game against North Carolina, indicating strong family support for the Crimson Tide. However, as of April 2025, Dybantsa has yet to announce his commitment, leaving fans and analysts awaiting his decision.​

Beyond Dybantsa, Alabama has actively engaged with other five-star prospects. The Crimson Tide were included in the top 12 for five-star center Chris Cenac, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Link Academy. Cenac is ranked as the nation’s No. 16 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle and is considered the top center in his class. His top 12 list also features programs like Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Houston, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan State, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn. ​

Impact on Alabama’s Program

The pursuit and potential acquisition of these five-star prospects are pivotal for Alabama’s basketball program. Securing commitments from high-caliber players like Reid, Hannah, Dybantsa, and Cenac would not only enhance the team’s talent pool but also elevate its national standing. Such additions are expected to contribute significantly to Alabama’s competitiveness in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and on the national stage.​

Alabama’s strategic focus on recruiting five-star prospects has positioned the program for continued success. The commitments of players like Derrion Reid and Davion Hannah, along with the ongoing pursuit of talents such as AJ Dybantsa and Chris Cenac, reflect the team’s dedication to building a championship-contending roster. As these recruitment efforts unfold, they will undoubtedly influence Alabama’s performance in the upcoming seasons, with fans and analysts closely monitoring each development.