Alabama basketball forward Jarin Stevenson has made a decision for his future.
Stevenson, who was a freshman last season with the Crimson Tide, will return for a second season with the Crimson Tide, The Tuscaloosa News has learned. He withdrew his name from the NBA Draft before the deadline, joining veteran Mark Sears in making that decision.
Stevenson was reclassified to the 2023 class so he could play for Alabama in 2023-24. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina native played in all 37 games and started five. Along the way, he scored 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game, but his biggest impact was felt against Clemson in the Elite Eight matchup that sent Alabama to the Final Four for the first time in program history. . He scored 19 points and was a problem for the Tigers from beyond the arc; he made five triples in that game on eight attempts (62.5%) and also blocked two shots.
“I mean, Jarin, shoot: best of the season in the biggest game of his life, hit big shot after big shot, made tough play after tough play,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said after the win over Clemson. “He grew up tonight. Shoot, 19 points on 11 shots is pretty efficient basketball. I am very proud of Jarin.”
NATE OATS: How Alabama Basketball Landed Mark Sears, Putting the Crimson Tide on the Road to the Final Four
BEHIND THE SCENES: Inside the speech that changed Alabama’s basketball season heading into the March Madness race
NICK SABAN’S COMMEMORATIVE BOOK: Relive Nick Saban’s epic career with our special book. Pre-order here.
Alabama’s 2023-24 roster includes returnees Stevenson, Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. Meanwhile, Oats and company have also added several pieces; Rutgers great Cliff Omoruyi headlines the group of newcomers. He will give Alabama the rim protector it didn’t have last season; Transfers joining him are Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), Chris Youngblood (USF) and Aden Holloway (Auburn). Alabama also added freshmen Derrion Reid, Aiden Sherrell, Naas Cunningham and Labaron Philon.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and covers Alabama football and men’s basketball. Contact him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Jarin Stevenson: Alabama basketball forward makes decision for future
