Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats admits that recruits want to visit to watch Alabama football games

The Alabama Crimson Tide has not had issues recruiting in football or basketball. Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer has his program rolling in top recruits even after Nick Saban's retirement. The basketball team, under Nate Oats, has been just as successful.

The Tide's basketball team has the second-ranked recruiting class in 2024 and eight in 2025. That's pretty good for what's been a fine but not elite on-court product over the years.

On Thursday, Oats revealed that his strategy with hosting recruits has had to be adjusted.

Oats told his staff to be wary of hosting recruits who want to visit only during Alabama football games. He's noticed that recruits will come to experience the big games but otherwise aren't overly interested in coming to campus.

"I had to address it with new staff coming in, that some guys just want to come watch football games. I make the point that if they're not willing to come on a visit when there's not a football game, we probably shouldn't bring them on a visit when there is a football game."

It's hard to blame Oats for this policy. There's no point in wasting resources and time on a player who just wants to take in the event and not actually consider the school.