Top 10 Best Alabama Basketball Players

The Alabama Crimson Tide are one of the biggest names in all of college sports, and their basketball team is no different. The Crimson Tide have made the NCAA Tournament 23 times over the course of their history. Their best result was an elite eight appearance in 2004. This continued success is owed to the many great players that have come through their program, of which these ten listed below are the best of all time.

Who Are the Best Alabama College Basketball Players of All Time?

1. Robert Horry
2. Collin Sexton
3. Latrell Sprewell
4. Antonio McDyess
5. Gerald Wallace
6. Reggie King
7. Mo Williams
8. Derrick McKey
9. Herbert Jones
10. Leon Douglas

1. Robert Horry

• Second-Team All-SEC in 1992
• Third-Team All-SEC in 1990
• SEC All-Defensive Team in 1992

Robert Horry joined the Crimson Tide roster in 1988 and became the greatest player the program had ever seen. Horry played both power forward and small forward and was named to both the Second and Third-Team All-SEC lists during his time at the school. He was so successful that he was drafted in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He made the NBA All-Rookie team in his first season. He spent a total of 17 seasons in the NBA, and managed to win a truly impressive seven championships in that span.

2. Collin Sexton

• SEC All-Freshman team in 2018
• SEC Freshman of the Year in 2018
• Eighth Overall pick in NBA Draft

Collin Sexton came out of his Georgia high school as one of the highest-rated basketball recruits in the entire country and continued that legacy at Alabama. He played point guard and shooting guard and found success immediately and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year for his efforts. He was also named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Sexton ultimately spent only one season with the Crimson Tide before declaring for the NBA draft. In 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers used the eighth overall pick on Sexton. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team in his first season.

3. Latrell Sprewell

• Second-Team All-SEC in 1992
• SEC All-Defensive Team in 1992
• First Round Draft Pick

Latrell Sprewell joined the Crimson Tide roster as both a shooting guard and small forward in 1990 and showed great success on both sides of the court. In his two years playing for Alabama, Sprewell was able to make quite an impact. For his 1992 season, he was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team as well as the Second-Team All-SEC list. His efforts with the Crimson Tide ultimately resulted in his being drafted 24th overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. In his very first season in professional basketball, Sprewell was named to the Second-Team for both rookies and defensive players.

4. Antonio McDyess

• Second-Team All American in 2001
• Led Alabama in scoring in 1994
• Second Overall Pick in NBA Draft

Antoino McDyess played power forward for the Alabama Crimson Tide between 1993 and 1995. In his sophomore season with the team, he led in both scoring and rebounds. He was successful enough with the team that he decided to enter the NBA draft after only two seasons with Alabama. McDyess was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the second overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. McDyess made an immediate impact on the court. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season. He would go on to play in the NBA until 2011, and was even named to the All Star game in 2001. 

5. Gerald Wallace

• First-Team All-American in 2000
• Averaged 9.8 points per game
• First Round pick in NBA Draft

Gerald Wallace joined the Alabama Crimson Tide’s basketball team in 2000 as a small forward and had one year of great success. Wallace averaged nearly ten points and six rebounds per game before being declared for the NBA Draft the following season and was selected late in the first round by the Sacramento Kings. Wallace would ultimately spend 15 years in the NBA with five different teams. He was named an All Star in 2010, and was included on the All-Defensive First Team list in that same year. He retired in 2015, having averaged 11.9 points per game over the course of his long career. 

6. Reggie King

• SEC Male Athlete of the Year in 1979
• Two-time SEC Player of the Year
• Second-Team All-American in 1979

In 1975, Reggie King joined the Alabama Crimson Tide’s men's basketball team after a very successful high school career. He was named Alabama Mr. Basketball, which is an award given to the best high school basketball player in the state. King went on to play for the Crimson Tide until 1979, and in that time, found massive success. He was named the SEC Male Athlete of the Year in 1979. He was also named SEC Player of the Year two times, the first in 1978, and the second the following year. When King declared for the NBA Draft, he was selected 18th overall by the Kansas City Kings. 

7. Mo Williams

• Third-Team All-SEC in 2003
• Third-Team All-American in 2001
• SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002

Mo Williams was a powerhouse point guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide between 2001 and 2003. He joined the team after being named Mississippi Mr. Basketball in 2001 for his efforts in high school. Williams found quick success with the Crimson Tide and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year for his strong performance in his rookie season. He was named to the All-SEC Third Team in the following year. After only two seasons with the team, Williams entered the NBA Draft and was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round. Williams played in the NBA until 2017, and even won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

8. Derrick McKey

• Third-Team All-American in 1987
• SEC Player of the Year in 1987
• Led Alabama to Sweet 16 in 1987

Derrick McKey played both small forward and power forward for the Alabama Crimson Tide between 1984 and 1987. McKey found quite a bit of success with the team, especially in his last season when he was named the SEC Player of the Year. Following that impressive showing, McKey entered the NBA Draft and was promptly selected ninth overall by the Seattle Supersonics. McKey made an immediate impact, being named to the NBA All-Rookie team in his first season. Over the course of his career in the NBA, McKey was also named to the All-Defensive Second Team in two consecutive seasons: 1995 and 1996. 

9. Herbert Jones

• SEC Player of the Year in 2021
• First-Team All SEC in 2021
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021

Herbert Jones played for the Alabama Crimson Tide between 2017 and 2021 and was known as one of the program’s best defensive players of all time. In that span, he made a huge impact with the team. Some of his finer achievements include being named both SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. His performance that season also earned him a coveted spot on the All-SEC First Team. He declared for the NBA Draft in the following season and was picked up in the second round by the New Orleans Pelicans. In his first season in professional basketball, Jones was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. 

10. Leon Douglas

• Consensus Second-Team All American in 1975
• Fourth overall pick in NBA Draft
• First-Team All-American in 1972

Leon Douglas was one of the finer talents to roll through the Alabama Crimson Tide locker room, playing center for the team between 1972 and 1976. In that time, he made quite a few All-American lists by a variety of publications, but his finest achievement was being a consensus Second-Team All-American in 1975. Douglas was ultimately selected fourth overall in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He would go on to play seven seasons in the NBA. However, his career in professional basketball wasn’t over, as he played in European leagues until his retirement from the sport in 1992. 

Honorable Mentions

• Michael Ansley
• Keith Askins
• David Benoit
• Jason Caffey
• T.R. Dunn
• Alonzo Gee
• JaMychal Green
• Buck Johnson
• James Robinson
• Ennis Whatley

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