Men’s Basketball Adds Four Players to its 2025 Signing Class
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Head coach Nate Oats announced that Jalil Bethea, Taylor Bol Bowen, Keitenn Bristow and Noah Williamson signed to continue their playing career with the Alabama men’s basketball program. The four new additions join a signing class that includes incoming freshmen Amari Allen, Davion Hannah and London Jemison.
2025 NLI Signing Class Notes
- Ranked as the No. 10 overall signing class, according to On3
- Sixth consecutive top 15 signing class for head coach Nate Oats since arriving on campus
- First time in program history UA has had six straight top 15 signing classes
Nate Oats on 2025 Transfer Signing Class: “We are excited to welcome these four young men to our program who are not only extremely talented but great people who will add value to our program. As a group, they bring a lot of size combined with athleticism and skill that will be great fits in our system. We are excited to welcome both them and their families to the Alabama basketball program.”
Jalil Bethea | G | 6-5 | 190 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Miami/Archbishop Wood
Miami (2025)
- Averaged 7.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 31 games during his freshman season
- Scored double-figures in nine games including a season-high 21 points on Feb. 11 vs. Syracuse
- One of five ACC freshmen to record 10-plus points, 5-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists in a game in 2024-25
- Tallied three-plus assists on five occasions
- Named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard Preseason Top 20
Prep
- A 2024 McDonald’s All-American selection and won the McDonald’s Slam Dunk Contest
- Named the 2024 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year while being tabbed as the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 6A Player of the Year
- A 2024 Naismith Second Team All-American selection
- A consensus five-star, top-10 recruit in the nation
Nate Oats on Jalil Bethea: “Jalil is a supreme athlete with unlimited potential and is a player that has every measurable that the NBA is looking for, as he was a projected top-five pick before starting his collegiate career. Jalil is an elite playmaker and possesses great ball handling skills and decision making and will be a great fit for our system.”
Taylor Bol Bowen | F | 6-10 | 205 | Jericho, Vt. | Florida State/Brewster Academy
Florida State (2024-25)
- Totaled 329 points, 233 rebounds and 32 assists at Florida State for an average of 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists in his two seasons at Florida State
- Averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists during his sophomore season at FSU while shooting 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range
- Scored double-figures in six ACC contests last season, including a season-high 20 points on Jan. 18 vs. Georgia Tech
- Posted two double-doubles throughout his sophomore season
Prep
- Originally from Egypt, Bowen moved to Jericho, Vermont and played two seasons at Brewster Academy
- Led Brewster Academy to a pair of Elite Eight appearances in the National Prep Championship Tournament
- Won the NEPSAC Class Triple A championship during his junior season and was the NEPSAC runner-up in his senior season
- Was a 2023 McDonald’s All-American nominee
- Played in the 2023 Nike Hoops Summit
Nate Oats on Taylor Bol Bowen: “Taylor is a tremendous athlete with great size at 6-10 and a 7-2 wingspan. He can spread the floor with his three-point shooting and is one of the best two-way players in the country. He is elite on the defensive end and is one of the best weak-side rim protectors I have seen.”
Keitenn Bristow | F | 6-8 | 190 | Holliday, Texas | Tarleton State/Holliday HS
Tarleton State (2025)
- Named WAC Freshman of the Year, averaging 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game
- Played in 23 games along with 19 starts
- Ranked in the top 40 in the nation among freshman in points per game while leading all WAC freshmen in scoring
- Scored a career-high 24 points on Jan. 9 at Southern Utah
- Scored double figures in 13 games including 17 points on Dec. 18 at Oklahoma State
Prep
- Played for Kyle Tucker at Holliday High School where he was the 2023-24 UIL Player of the Year scoring over 2,100 points and grabbed over 500 rebounds throughout his career
- Tabbed as the THSCA 3A MVP during his senior season
- Named a 2024 Texas Mr. Basketball finalist while being a 3A All-State honoree
- Led Holliday High School to a 34-3 record during his senior season, advancing to the state semifinals
Nate Oats on Keitenn Bristow: “Keitenn is a player that is just beginning to scratch the surface of his talent as he grew nine inches over the last three years. He has the ability to make plays in transition and push the tempo. He can rebound outside his area and is a capable three-point shooter.”
Noah Williamson | C | 7-0 | 250 | Riga, Latvia | Bucknell/St. Thomas More (Conn.)
Bucknell (2023-25)
- Recorded 983 points, 470 rebounds and 161 assists in three seasons at Bucknell
- Named the 2025 Patriot League Player of the Year averaging 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks per contest
- A 2025 Patriot League First Team and All-Defense honoree
- Posted 10 double-doubles in his final season at Bucknell, which ranked 39th in Division I
- Grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds on two separate occasions
- Averaged a conference-best 6.2 defensive rebounds during the 2024-25 season
Prep
- Born and raised in Latvia before coming to the United States in 2021-22 for a post-graduate year at St. Thomas More (Conn.), the same school as fellow UA teammate London Jemison
- Played for the U-16, U-18 and U-19 Latvian National Team
- Played for the Kristaps Porzingis Basketball Academy
Nate Oats on Noah Williamson: “Noah is a 7-footer who possesses a lot of skill and has a great IQ. He has the ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting and with his passing. He has a good feel for the game and that was shown last year when he was named Patriot League Player of the Year.”
Source link
editor's pick
latest video
Sports News To You
Subscribe to receive daily sports scores, hot takes, and breaking news!