Fans in attendance for the Alabama men’s basketball Final Four banner reveal got to see most of the team play in an intrasquad scrimmage. But a few players were missing.
Chris Youngblood, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Aiden Sherrell all did not participate in the scrimmage because of injuries.
Youngblood’s injury was already known. He had ankle surgery, and Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said the expectation is that Youngblood will be back by conference play.
Meanwhile, Wrightsell and Sherrell are both week-to-week with lower-leg injuries, a UA spokesperson told AL.com.
Wrightsell is expected to be competing for starting minutes at guard, back for another season with the Crimson Tide. He was an x-factor for Alabama a season ago and a statistically efficient player. Wrightsell shot 44.7% from deep and averaged 8.9 points in 2023-24.
Sherrell is a freshman and a former McDonald’s All-American who will likely get some time behind Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi at the center spot.
Sherrell and Wrightsell attended the game in street clothes. Youngblood also wore a medical boot. Youngblood averaged 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists this past season with the South Florida Bulls. Those efforts earned him AAC co-player of the year in 2024.
Alabama will play exhibition games against Wake Forest and Memphis before the season begins on Nov. 4 against UNC Asheville at Coleman Coliseum.
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
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