Cole Cloer, a promising forward who transferred from North Carolina State University, has committed to the University of Alabama's basketball program. Cloer missed his freshman season due to a knee injury but is now ready to contribute under head coach Nate Oats. His commitment comes as Alabama seeks to improve after a disappointing 23-9 record and a Sweet 16 exit in the 2025-26 NCAA tournament. Cloer had previously listed Alabama among his top schools during his high school recruitment and has now fulfilled that interest. He is the third player to join Alabama from the transfer portal this offseason, alongside Jamarion Davis-Fleming from Mississippi State and Brandon Garrison from Kentucky. The team currently has 13 scholarship players for the upcoming 2026-27 season, with two spots still available for further recruitment. While some fans have criticized the signing, others are optimistic about Cloer's potential impact on the team.