With Jim Larrañaga stepping down as Miami’s head coach, five-star shooting guard Matthew Able has been released from his National Letter of Intent with the Hurricanes and has reopened his recruitment.
Although Alabama and head coach Oat Nates were not involved in Able’s recruitment before his commitment to Miami, the Crimson Tide are now one of three teams actively pursuing him. According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Alabama has scheduled an official visit with Able, who will be in Tuscaloosa on March 5th for the team’s final home game of the regular season against Florida. He is also set to visit Tennessee on Saturday for the Volunteers’ matchup against Alabama and will take a third visit to Baylor on March 8th.
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Able will have the opportunity to closely evaluate Alabama twice in the coming week. His recruiting stock has surged in recent weeks, thanks to an impressive senior season. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a five-star prospect and currently ranked No. 26 overall in the 247 Composite Rankings.
With Jim Larranaga stepping down as the Miami head coach, 5-star SG Matthew Able has been granted his release from his National Letter of Intent with the Hurricanes and has re-opened his recruitment.
Though Nate Oats and Alabama basketball were not a factor in his recruitment before he committed and signed with Miami, the Crimson Tide are one of three teams who have swooped in and have an official visit set up with Able, per On3’s Joe Tipton.
Able will be in Tuscaloosa for a visit on March 5th for Alabama’s final home game of the regular season against Florida. Able will visit Tennessee on Saturday for the Vols’ matchup with the Crimson Tide and take a third visit to Baylor on March 8th.
Able will get to see Alabama up close and personal twice over the next week. Able has seen his stock rise considerably in the last few weeks with a big senior season. The 6-foot-5 two-guard from Fort Lauderdale, Florida is ranked as a 5-star prospect and the No. 26 overall player in 247 Composite Rankings.
Able could add to a strong 2025 class for Oats and Alabama
Alabama has already signed three prospects in the 2025 recruiting cycle, earning them the No. 13 class in the composite rankings. Their current class consists of four-star forward London Jemison, four-star guard Davion Hannah, and four-star wing Amari Allen.
Last year, the Crimson Tide also made a late addition when guard Labaron Philon was released from his National Letter of Intent with Kansas and ultimately signed with Alabama. That move proved beneficial, as Philon has been a standout player and is now projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
With Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson, and Cliff Omoruyi all set to finish their college careers after this season, Alabama could also see Philon and Derrion Reid declare early for the NBA Draft. Additionally, the transfer portal remains an unpredictable factor. While it’s somewhat surprising that Alabama is targeting a guard this late in the cycle—given their more pressing needs for a veteran backcourt presence or a young big—Nate Oats clearly has a strong grasp of the roster’s needs and is confident in pursuing the talented high school senior.
