Five-star forward Derrion Reid committed to the Crimson Tide on Friday, giving Alabama and Nate Oats an early Christmas present.
The 6-foot-7 Georgian forward Reid, who is a No. 17 nationally ranked player, made things official while on break for Christmas. Reid is a senior at Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep.
Reid told 247Sports, “I just felt like it was the best fit for me.” “I like the play style and seeing how coach develops his players.”
Reid, a frontcourt player in the class of 2024 who is more athletic, has developed his all-around game over the past
year and had a great summer playing for Team Thad in the Nike EYBL. He drives hard to the rim, finishes lobs, and
is a formidable shooter. He’s simply trying to be a decent two-way player at Alabama, ideally setting himself up for a
future boost in playmaking ability.
“I just want to be a great player on both sides of the ball and get ready to get to the next level and have a great season.”
Reid is the third 2024 graduate to choose Alabama. He now joins four-star recruit wing Naas Cunningham and high school teammate Aidan Sherrell in a class that will rise to No. 7 in the industry-generated Composite Team Rankings.
Reid stated earlier this week that he was eager to finish the process so he could devote all of his focus to getting ready for the upcoming season.
I’ll be stress-free, committed to improving, concentrating just on one college, and getting ready for the upcoming year.”
This scouting report on Reid is provided by Adam Finkelstein, Director of Scouting at 247Sports.
This year, Reid made a name for himself as one of the nation’s more adaptable forwards. He is a danger from several
positions on the floor and plays with an aggressive scoring approach. He presumably feels most at ease in the mid-
post region or with comparable elbow isometrics. His footwork is excellent, and he enjoys finishing face-up after
starting with his back to the hoop. He can play through contact and goes straight into it, but he also poses a threat by
pulling up over contested defenders in the mid-range. However, there are hints of a highly multifaceted attack.
Though not yet a high-volume threat and prone to misses when out of rhythm, he still possesses touch and rotation
to continue improving behind the arc.
In a similar vein, he rarely looks to attack off a live dribble but occasionally has flashes of a crossover and
playmaking skills when the floor is open. Even though he had a flat assist-to-turnover ratio in the EYBL (45 of each
through 21 games), there are sporadic flashes of brilliance. Similar adaptability can be shown in his defensive play, as
he can shift his feet, make good use of his length, effectively hedge ball screens, and physically overwhelm larger opponents inside.
He is renowned for his explosive put-back dunks and is a good vertical athlete and rebounder relative to his
opponent’s size. When he advances to the next level, his already-sturdy physique should be able to accommodate a
lot more muscle mass. He is an all-around adaptable, scoring combo-forward who, although playing more like a four right now, has the mobility to eventually become more of a large wing.”
