“What I’m hearing is that he’s going to be drafted” — Philon’s exit poses questions at Point Guard

For the better part of a month, the main question surrounding the Tide’s rebuilding 2026 hoops roster has centered on the return of Labaron Philon.

The Freshman PG from Mobile began the season on a torrid pace. As happens to young players, he did hit a bit of a wall when SEC play began, and he also played with some nagging injuries for goodly chunk of the season. However, once he got healthy again, Philon showed out down season’s stretch run, including setting up a game-changing steal-dunk in an Auburn game that reversed the season’s fortunes. His great play continued on the national stage in the NCAA Tournament. And, like his season, his draft fortunes followed his play, setting up a month of will-he-won’t-he go to the pros at the end of the year.

But at his age (19), height (6’4”), toughness, defensive capacity, sterling Asst:TO ratio, and ability to get to the rim, we probably should have suspected that even the lure of NIL money doesn’t overcome a First Round grade…and, as we now know, he’s consistently getting them. Thus barring a collapse at the Combine, Philon is gone, and Nate Oats is more about promoting him at this point than hedging.

“He’s got to do well in the workouts, but what I’m hearing is, I think he’s going to get drafted,” Oats said. “I’m sure it’ll be a great success story. He comes in, he’s not on anybody’s draft board, he plays well for us, and he ends up getting drafted after a year with us. So, that’s the plan right now.”

The 6-foot-4 Philon, who grew up in Mobile before finishing his high school career at Link Academy in Missouri, started 29 of 37 games as a freshman at Alabama this past season. He averaged 10.6 points per game (fifth on the team) but led the team in steals (1.4 per game) and was second behind only All-American Mark Sears in assists (3.8 per game).

Labaron’s departure, however, now leaves the Tide staff with a quandary at Point Guard. Alabama did not pursue or sign a PG out of the portal, nor did ‘Bama recruit one. The sole guard in the upcoming 2025 NSD class is a 6’6” combo player who can handle the ball but have never played pure point and is more suited as a 2/3 wing guy.

We can’t look to the talent imported from the portal either. Jalil Bethea out of Florida State is a combo guard, more known for his streaky perimeter shot and dribble penetration. Keitenn Bristow is a pure forward.

The same questions arise when looking at most of the players on the Tide’s returning roster: Latrell Wrightsell is by far a more natural shooting guard. Houston Mallette played some point at Pepperdine. But he’s settled into his role as another combo wing player in the mold of Estrada, and is at his best off-ball.

That leaves Alabama with only one real solution, right? The undersized Aden Holloway who had a career renaissance once he moved away from the point, and played more Combo / SG. But he is now going to be tasked with running the offense, barring a last minute NSD addition.

That in itself should raise some eyebrows.

Alabama had defensive issues all season — indeed for a few seasons — with the undersized Mark Sears manning the point. And Sears was a tougher, more physically imposing player too, with the ability to also drive the ball, absorb contact, and was willing to scrap for rebounds. That in turn also set up a lot of dimes for Sears. But none of that is in Biz’s game. He’s smooth as butter with a great jumper, but he’s not renowned for his on-ball defense or willingness to push the rock into the lane. He’s generously listed at 6’1”, but he looks like a flat-six foot or sub-6 shooting guard.

There’s also the ball distribution issue. Sears was remarkably careless at times, but on a per-touch basis and in TO rate, Holloway was behind only Sears and Grant Nelson in coughing it up, and doing so on far fewer minutes and touches.

Can he do it? I don’t want to sell Holloway short here, but nothing in his dossier suggests that he is ready to be a full-time point guard in the SEC, on either end of the floor. There aren’t any good solutions at hand either.

Is the Tide going to be rolling with Aden at the One? Ball-handling by committee a la 2022? Perhaps signing an unheralded recruit or D2-type player?

Oats has given Alabama fans four Sweet 16 (plus) in five trips. He’s won four SEC crowns in six years. So, he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. But, it is fair to have some doubt about this hole in the roster. Tide fans love Biz, we all do. But full-time at the point just isn’t a good fit, unless he grows into a player we’ve not seen in two years at Alabama and Auburn.