Amari Allen’s Decision to Declare for the 2026 NBA Draft
Alabama forward Amari Allen has made the decision to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft while still maintaining his collegiate eligibility. This announcement was shared on his Instagram account, where he expressed gratitude to everyone in Tuscaloosa for making his first year at Alabama an unforgettable experience.
“Thank you to everyone in Tuscaloosa for making this year an unforgettable experience for me,” Allen wrote. “From my teammates to our coaches and staff, everyone made me feel at home.”
After meeting with his family and Coach Nate Oats, Allen officially declared for the NBA Draft. He mentioned that playing in the NBA has always been his dream, and he is excited about what the future holds.
Coach Oats had previously noted that Allen stood out as a surprise during the season due to his ranking from recruiting outlets. He was considered an underrated prospect with something to prove. Throughout the season, Allen consistently appeared in the first round of NBA Draft mocks.
Performance and Recognition
Allen started in 24 of his 32 games played this season, averaging 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks. His performance earned him three SEC Freshman of the Week honors, leading to his selection on the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Oats emphasized that NBA teams would be interested in Allen because of his focus on winning. Additionally, Nick Saban, the head football coach at Alabama, was impressed by Allen when he attended a game.
However, Allen faced a slump in March, with his stats dipping across the board. This included the season-ending loss to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, which he blamed himself for. After the game, Allen was asked about his future plans in the locker room.
“I’ll definitely be back here next year,” Allen said. “Unless my agent says the NBA is the best option. But if that’s not the case, I’ll be here.”
Future Plans and Considerations
Allen previewed what those conversations might look like with his agent and family. “Well obviously, this is the place that I want to be [at],” he said. “I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I don’t really have much conversations with that. My mom, my dad and my agent, we all know that I want to be here. I’ll let them take care of all of the other stuff. If the NBA is the best option, they decide that. I’m just trying to focus on getting better every day.”
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Allen will test the waters at the NBA Combine from May 10-17 in Chicago. He has until May 27 to withdraw and return to the Crimson Tide for the 2026-27 season. A return to Alabama in the future is not out of the question.
Updates on Alabama Players
BamaCentral is tracking the Crimson Tide’s outgoing and incoming players and coaches ahead of next season. Here are some key updates:
Alabama Players Who Announced Their Return
- London Jemison (will be a sophomore)
Players Who Could Return, Transfer or Enter NBA Draft
- Aden Holloway (would be a senior)
- Preston Murphy Jr. (would be a senior)
- London Jemison (would be a sophomore)
- Keitenn Bristow (would be a junior pending redshirt)
- Collins Onyejiaka (would be a sophomore pending redshirt)
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