Labaron Philon 'all-in' on NBA Draft, closes door on return to Alabama
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Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Griffin McVeigh | Last updated May 14, 2025 3:30 PM ET
According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Alabama guard Labaron Philon will remain in the 2025 NBA Draft. He previously kept the door open for a return to Tuscaloosa for the 2025-2026 season. But Philon tells Borzello he is “all-in on the draft” and shut down the idea of going back to school.
“Alabama guard Labaron Philon says he’s staying in the NBA draft and won’t return to the Crimson Tide,” Borzello said via X. “He’s already told Nate Oats his final decision.”
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 14, 2025Alabama guard Labaron Philon says he’s staying in the NBA draft and won’t return to the Crimson Tide. He’s already told Nate Oats his final decision.
“I’m all-in on the draft,” he said.
“They weren’t surprised. They knew it already.”
Is the door closed on a return?
“Yeah.” pic.twitter.com/deukXlCs9A
Philon wound up spending just one season at Alabama after an unusual recruitment. His original commitment was to the Auburn Tigers, opting to play under Bruce Pearl. However, Kansas was able to flip him into their 2024 recruiting class. National signing day saw Philon sign with the Jayhawks.
Bill Self then decided to go heavy in the NCAA transfer portal last offseason, putting Philon back on the open market via a release from his National Letter of Intent. Oats was there to scoop the in-state prospect and bring him to Alabama.
Philon played high school basketball at Link Academy (MO), where he was a four-star prospect, but is originally from Mobile, AL. He was the No. 35 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Getting integrated into the Alabama rotation did not take too long. Philon was a massive part of what the Crimson Tide accomplished last season. He averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, starting in 29 of the Crimson Tide’s 37 contests.
From a team perspective, another deep NCAA Tournament run took place under Oats. Alabama was revealed as a two-seed on Selection Sunday before going to the Elite Eight. Duke was just too much to overcome, blocking Alabama from a second consecutive Final Four appearance.
Philon’s full attention is now on the NBA Draft. The hope is to get selected in the first round and prove he made the right decision of not returning to school.
On3’s James Fletcher produced a mini mock draft after the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery results were revealed on Monday. Philon did not find himself in the top 14. Fletcher does have a big board broken down by position, though. The now-former Alabama point guard finds himself at No. 6, behind four other college basketball stars and one international prospect.
