Nate Oats talks about state of the Alabama basketball roster
Here’s where Nate Oats said Alabama basketball currently stands roster wise heading into the summer.
- Houston Mallette has been granted a medical redshirt and will return to Alabama basketball for the 2025-26 season.
- Mallette only played six games in the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury.
- The former Pepperdine transfer expressed gratitude for the opportunity to return and pursue a second degree.
- Mallette averaged 13.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game during his three seasons at Pepperdine.
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Alabama basketball has another answer when it comes to its 2025-26 roster.
Former Pepperdine transfer Houston Mallette earned his medical redshirt and will return to the Crimson Tide after playing six games for Alabama in 2024-25.
“It’s incredible. Very blessed and really happy that God has put me in this position to be able to come back,” Mallette told the Tuscaloosa News on Wednesday. “I mean, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I just want to thank Clarke Holter, Henry Barrera and Amanda Branson for my overall rehab with my knees, with my nutrition, how I’m feeling and, overall, my strength and conditioning and workouts.
“It was a long year, but I made a lot of progress in a lot of different areas. And I’m feeling great. I’m just incredibly excited to be back.”
Mallette played three seasons at Pepperdine and started 90 of 94 total games, averaging 13.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Mallette played 47 total minutes across six games for Alabama in 2024-25 before he sat out the rest of the season with a knee injury.
“I remember in the middle of the year, I was 100% OK with burning my redshirt that I already had to help the team in any way possible,” Mallette said. “For me to be able to get the opportunity to come back and get a medical redshirt, get another year and get a second degree is a blessing. I’m really excited to be back here.
“I was expecting it, but in this day and age, you never really know what is going to happen. I mean, Clarke and the doctors, they really did their thing. They made a case for me, and I’m really thankful for them.”
Mallette said he found out about the return last week.
“Next steps, just an excitement,” Mallette said. “Just excited to be back.”
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
