Alabama forward Amari Allen (#5) prepares to pass the ball against Auburn on Feb. 7, 2026.
In May, Labaron Philon announced he was removing his name from the NBA Draft and returning to Alabama for his sophomore season, taking a risk in an attempt to go from an early-second rounder to a lottery pick.
Philon’s decision has been a major success.
The star guard averages 21.3 points to go along with nearly five assists per game. His 3-point percentage has improved drastically, climbing over eight percentage points while also seeing his attempts per game from beyond the arc rise to nearly six.
“When he tested in the draft, there were a few things they came back with: one was shooting,” head coach Nate Oats said. “He’s proven he can shoot.”
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie slotted the superstar guard at 13th overall on his 2026 Big Board, putting Philon in perfect position to be the next lottery pick drafted out of Alabama.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo is not quite as high on Philon, dropping him three spots to 21st overall as just the seventh-best point guard on the board.
“Philon is one of the shiftiest scorers in this class,” Woo writes. “The breadth of other options at his position makes Philon more of a candidate in the middle to late first round.”
Popular destinations for Philon include the Miami Heat (Clutch Points), Toronto Raptors (CBS), Portland Trailblazers (Sports Illustrated), and Chicago Bulls (Tankathon).
Labaron Philon isn’t the only player in Tuscaloosa who might go in the first round — freshman Amari Allen has become a serious one-and-done candidate for the NBA Draft.
Allen, who ranks second to Philon on the team in minutes per game, averages 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
What really stands out about Allen is his athleticism, allowing him flexibility in a positionless NBA. He’s a great ball-handler and shoots over 37% from 3, allowing him to play both guard and forward.
“Amari is all about winning,” Oats said. “People in the NBA are interested in that. He’s got really good size, skill and athleticism.”
Allen is currently projected as a late-first to early-second round pick, similar to Philon last year.