Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats has been very active in the transfer portal in recent years, bringing in four transfers this season and adding players like Mark Sears and Noah Gurley during his tenure. We got a lot of results from these players.

Oats has done a phenomenal job of adapting as the portal era continues to expand and coaches become more dependent.

According to guard Aaron Estrada, one of this season's top players, when Oats entered the portal this offseason, he wasted no time reaching out.

“I entered the portal at 12 p.m. [Nate Oats] They called me within 30-40 seconds…”@Aaron4PF_ He was in class at the time, and when he realized it was Oates, he told us, “I left the classroom and said, 'I'll be right back. I have to go to the bathroom.'”@AlabamaMBB pic.twitter.com/h0nzeXzM1Z

— Next Round (@NextRoundLive) February 14, 2024

“I went into the portal at 12 p.m., and within probably 30 to 40 seconds he called me and it was like that moment…Right after that, the moment I talked to Coach Oats, he told me he really didn't like it. I felt like he had feelings for me. He wanted to prioritize me on his roster,” Estrada said during the appearance. next round live.

“I talked to him again that day and he said he wanted to get on a plane and meet me. Then two days later he got on a plane and met me and my mom. And that's when we started playing ball. It’s kind of a way to roll.”

Estrada, who transferred to Alabama from Hofstra, is one of Alabama's most important offensive players this year. He averages about 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.

Estrada, along with Grant Nelson, Mohamed Wag and Latrell Lightsell, arrived at Alabama via the portal this offseason and made significant contributions this season.

Michael Brauner is a senior sports analyst and contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP