Alabama MBB injury update: Nate Oats provides major updates on three key players
Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats provided updates on Thursday regarding three key players who have suffered injuries during the offseason.
During his preview press conference, Oats first spoke of a major development in USF transfer Chris Youngblood. The fifth-year player will be sidelined for non-conference action after undergoing ankle surgery.
“Chris Youngblood had an ankle injury. Dr. Waldrop, who’s arguably the best foot and ankle specialist in the country, operated on him. We’re expecting him to be 100% by conference play, and we’ll have to see how recovery goes," Oats said, per On3.com.
The coach, who is in his sixth year with the Crimson Tide, praised Youngblood's work ethic during practices, comparing him to an assistant coach when he performs his drills.
Oats also shared the status of two of the team's top recruits Derrion Reid (hand) and Naas Cunningham (groin). Five-star high school recruit Reid will be week-to-week and is expected to be 100% before the team's exhibition game against Wake Forest on Oct. 18.
Cunningham, on the other hand, is day-to-day and could be back by the end of the week, the Alabama coach said.
Alabama looks to make sure Youngblood, freshmen are healthy for the season
Alabama coach Nate Oats said the team is working diligently to ensure Chris Youngblood, Derrion Reid and Naas Cunningham fully recover from their injuries.
"Those are the three guys that as you were watching practice that were not participating. They’re all on their own timetable, but we’ll make sure that they’re back and healthy before we throw them back in," Oats said.
Youngblood was the team's prized recruit during the offseason. The fifth-year graduate student, who tallied a career-best 15.3 points and 2.1 assists per game on 45.8% shooting last season, was a top-20 small forward in the transfer portal.
Reid, one of the three McDonald's All-Americans on the Crimson Tide roster, posted averages of 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on the Nike EYBL Circuit and is ranked the fourth-highest recruit in program history, per 247Sports.
Cunningham was ranked the 62nd overall recruit by ESPN and the No. 15 small forward in the class of 2024. He had stints in Overtime Elite and the Nike EYBL Circuit where he averaged double figures in points.
Oats shouldn't be worried about the extent of the injuries of his three players. He still has a deep core composed of returnees Mark Sears and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., transfer center Clifford Omoruyi and freshmen Labaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell at his disposal.