Labaron Philon, a four-star point guard in the Class of 2024, initially committed to Auburn and Kansas before choosing Alabama. Last season, he came off the bench to average 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals, helping the Crimson Tide reach the Elite Eight and earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
After helping the Crimson Tide reach the Elite Eight, Philon faced a decision months later: enter the 2025 NBA draft or return to Alabama. Opting to stay, he aimed for a national championship run, a choice that paid off as he led Alabama to victories over North Dakota and No. 5-ranked St. John’s.
Labaron Philon’s Assurance Helps Alabama Gain Two Early Wins This Season
In a postgame interview after Alabama’s 103-96 win over No. 5-ranked St. John’s, Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats was asked about Philon’s decision to come back for one more season despite being eligible for the 2025 NBA draft. Oats recalled the private conversation he had with the guard, who informed him of his intention to return and win the national title after falling short in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
“He called me late in the day? Pull his name out and say, ‘What if I told you I always want to come back. Roll Tide, Let’s go, Let’s go win a championship,” the Alabama coach said of Philon.
Philon’s decision worked wonders for himself and the Crimson Tide, leading the team’s offense in both victories against North Dakota and St. John’s. He finished with 22 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and one block in the 91-62 win over the Fighting Hawks in the season opener on Nov. 3.
The guard followed it up with a 25-point night in Alabama’s 103-96 upset of defending Big East champion and No. 5-ranked St. John’s at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday night.
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Oats noted that there are no moral victories for the team, given that they’ve been chosen to play in the NCAA Tournament since 2021, qualified for the Sweet 16 in four of the five seasons, and reached the Final Four and Elite Eight over the past two seasons.
Up next for Alabama is a showdown with No. 1-ranked Purdue at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa on November 13. And just like against St. John’s, the Crimson Tide will be the underdogs in the game against the Boilermakers, and the coach loves this status as a way to challenge his team to play better.
“For the last five years, we’ve won more SEC games, but what we haven’t done is win the whole thing, and that’s what he said: ‘we want to come back and win a championship,” Oats said. “We’re a little overlooked right now, which is fine. We’re probably better off being an underdog.”
The veteran mentor also addressed the purpose of the tough schedule the program arranged for the team this season. He aims to see what the team is all about and how they can handle adversity, as they approach the regular season in January and the tournament in March next year.