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Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) is shown before their game against Wisconsin Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. | Photo: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
TUSCALOOSA — In March, college basketball typically dominates the sporting news cycle. Alabama has been one of the top programs in the NCAA Tournament over the past few seasons, reaching its first Final Four in school history in 2024.
As the Crimson Tide basketball team looks to make another deep run, the Alabama football team will be cheering them on from Tuscaloosa as it continues spring practice. A few players gave their take on which of their teammates they would pick in a basketball starting five.
Tight end Josh Cuevas was confident in himself being included in a starting group of Tide football players. Cuevas, who joined Alabama last season from Washington, included an athletic linebacker and an offensive lineman to anchor the paint.
“I’m gonna be on there,” Cuevas said. “I’m gonna tell you right now, I’m gonna be on there. I think Noah Carter will be on there. I think he’s athletic enough to be on there. We’ll have Kadyn Proctor as the five. Nobody’s moving him.”
As for his final two spots, Cuevas thought Jaylen Mbakwe’s versitlty switching from cornerback to wide receiver could translate to the basketball court. At point guard, he considered speedy wideout Ryan Williams.
“I need to see his Euro step a little bit,” Cuevas said. “I need to see him drive and kick a little bit. Pure slasher.”
Offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark took a more frontcourt-focused approach to his starting group. His team featured four O-line brusiers, including Proctor, Wilkin Formby and Olaus Alinen.
“I’m just going to go all O-lineman,” VanDeMark said. “Give me KP, Wilk, Olaus. Do they have basketball in Finland? I’m gonna go [walk-on OL] Billy Roby. He’ll be my distributor at point guard. Floor General."
The team probably wouldn’t fit coach Nate Oats’ fast-tempo playstyle, but it would certainly be difficult to penetrate the paint against a frontcourt that weighs a combined 1,292 pounds.
As for his fifth starter, VanDeMark went with quarterback Ty Simpson. Surrounded by four linemen, the redshirt junior would have to be the hoops-equalivalent of a distributor that Alabama football is hoping he will be next season. If Simpson does win the quarterback battle, Tide fans will hope that he can have the same impact on the gridiron that Mark Sears has had for Alabama basketball in his tenure in Tuscaloosa.
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