Pepperdine Transfer Houston Mallette commits to Alabama basketball.
Nate Oats secures his first transfer portal commitment before the season even finishes.
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — In today’s collegiate athletics environment, the transfer portal does not stop for anything, including the NCAA Tournament.
Alabama basketball is preparing for a run in the Big Dance, and it has also acquired a commitment for their 2024-25 roster, signing Pepperdine transfer guard Houston Mallette.
Mallette appears to be an ideal match for the Crimson Tide’s fast-paced, NBA-style scheme. He has been Pepperdine’s most consistent scorer over the last three seasons, scoring at least 13 points per game each season and 14.7 this season.
He’s a good distance shooter, shooting at a career-high 41.5 percent this season, and he has a career 3-point percentage of 37.5. He can score from all three levels of the floor and is an excellent passer, all of which are required for success in the Oats scheme. In 2024, he also averaged more than three rebounds and two assists each game.
Mallette has decent length for a guard at 6-foot-5, which could assist him on the defensive end of the court, where Alabama has struggled this season.
It is uncertain what Mallette’s position will be next season, since Alabama’s backcourt is currently making decisions regarding their future. Only Aaron Estrada is out of eligibility, but Mark Sears and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. can use their COVID years to come back.
Regardless matter what Sears and Wrightsell decide, Mallette is expected to play a significant part on the Crimson Tide’s 2024-25 squad in his last year of eligibility.
