Alabama star Amari Allen makes NBA Draft decision

Amari Allen is going to be returning to the Alabama Crimson Tide for the 2026-27 college basketball season. This wasn't always going to case. Allen, a freshman forward from Green Bay, Wisconsin, had entered his name into the 2026 NBA Draft. He went in with the idea that he wanted to be a first-round pick. Anything other than that, and he was content to withdraw his name. Part of a player entering their name into the draft pool is that player getting a real-life evaluation as to what NBA teams think about them. A player can enter their name and withdraw, but there is a deadline. That deadline is May 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET.  Allen went into this process with a first-round or bust mindset when it came to his evaluation. "If it was second round, I would go back to school," Allen said at the combine. "I definitely feel I can go back to college and be a 20 [points per game] and 10 [rebounds per game] guy. Ultimately, though, I want to go to the NBA." Allen clearly got his answer through the process. On Wednesday, he posted on Instagram that he's returning to Alabama. Alabama freshman Amari Allen is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to the Crimson Tide, he announced. pic.twitter.com/t5JU8ScsvC This is undoubtedly a huge win for the Crimson Tide and head coach Nate Oats. Allen, checking in at 6-foot-8, 205 pounds, was part of the SEC All-Freshman Team after a 2025-26 season that saw him average 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He played in 32 games for the Tide and started in 24 of those. A former four-star recruit, Allen was a huge part of Alabama's 25-10 record last season alongside sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr. Unlike Allen, Philon is undoubtedly a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which will be held on Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24. Last month, ESPN's Jeremy Woo projected Philon to go No. 13 overall. Notably, he had Allen going No. 27, but a more recent mock draft from Danny Chau of The Ringer has Allen outside of Round 1. It doesn't matter now, though, because Allen will play for the Crimson Tide next season. Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!