The defending SEC basketball champions have added an important piece to their 2023 recruiting class in five-star Power Forward Jarin Stevenson out of Seaforth High School in Pittsboro, NC. Stevenson announced his commitment to Alabama basketball and his plans to reclassify on his Twitter page on Wednesday evening.
Alabama basketball lands reclassifying 5-star Jarin Stevenson
Stevenson is reclassifying to the 2023 class after originally being a highly ranked member of the 2024 class. It is unclear exactly where Stevenson will slot in at in the 2023 class (it has not been updated yet), but Stevenson was the No. 19 ranked recruit in the class of 2024. He was No. 3 Power Forward in that class as well. Stevenson averaged 21.5 PPG, 11.6 RPG, and 3.7 BPG this past year for Seaforth in what was his Junior season. He shot 60.1% from the field and was named the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year.
The 6’10 PF is a much-needed addition to the Crimson Tide Front court. Alabama’s entire starting front court form a year ago (SF Brandon Miller, PF Noah Clowney, and C Charles Bediako) are all headed to the NBA after helping lead Alabama to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament a year ago. Miller is expected to be a top three pick, while Clowney is expected to go at the back-end of the first round.
Stevenson chose Alabama over North Carolina. The assumption was that if Stevenson wanted to reclassify that he would choose Alabama, but if he wanted to remain in the 2024 class then he would have chosen North Carolina. Whether that was the case or not, Alabama will welcome the addition of the talented forward.
Stevenson is a skilled forward who can work away from the rim. He is athletic enough to be dangerous in transition, and can be dangerous off the dribble and as a shooter. While he probably still needs to fill out his frame some, it’s hard not to think that he can make an immediate impact in Tuscaloosa for a team with high aspirations in what will be Nate Oats’ fifth season.
Stevenson joins the 2023 Alabama recruiting class (in which he will headline) that was previously ranked as the No. 22 ranked class in the country. He joins a trio of four-stars forwards in Sam Walters, Kris Parker, and Mouhamed Diabate in the HS recruiting class. The Tide have also added two transfers so far in guards Aaron Estrada and Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
Alabama currently has two remaining open scholarship spots, although they are awaiting the decision of North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson who could fill one of those spots and join Stevenson in the Alabama basketball front court.