Alabama guard Houston Mallette takes a redshirt leave and makes his debut against North Carolina

A lot can change over the course of a season. This also applies to college basketball, where the most successful teams play more than three dozen games over the course of a season.

However, it only took nine games for 10th-ranked Alabama (7-2) to send transfer guard Houston Mallette onto the field for the first time – despite the fact that head coach Nate Oats said so shortly before the season opener on November 4th that the Pepperdine transfer along with teammate Naas Cunningham would lead to a redshirt.

A change to those plans became necessary beginning November 30, when fellow guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in the Players Era Festival championship game against Oregon. So one of the best long-range shooters in the transfer portal last offseason was called into action on Wednesday for his final season of eligibility (in a true road game at No. 20 North Carolina, no less). The Crimson Tide defeated the 20th-ranked Tar Heels (4-4) 94-79 in Chapel Hill.

Mallette reported after the U12 media timeout in the first half and officially burned his redshirt as the program decided to bring him into the picture for the highly anticipated ACC-SEC Challenge game and beyond. Oats said this week that this development is possible. Alabama’s depth was impacted by injuries to Wrightsell and South Florida transfer Chris Youngblood at the guard position. The latter of the two has yet to play a game but is expected back this month.

In nine minutes of play, Mallette scored six points on two attempts from beyond the arc. He was perfect from the field, adding three rebounds with two steals. Before assessing his own performance after the game, he made sure to pay tribute to Wrightsell.

“My prayers are out there with Latrell,” Mallette said. “I talked to him a lot because he played at Cal State Fullerton, and that was near where I went to school. We somehow stayed in touch. He’s one of the main reasons I came here and that’s obviously not the right way. “I wanted to play… I would love for Latrell to play.

Oats praised Mallette’s decision to stand up for his fallen teammate, as well as his effort in the game itself. He noted not only Mallette’s shooting efficiency, but also his defensive play, which created opportunities for the team on the other side.

“I think in society we often have the question, ‘What’s best for me?’” said Mallette, who initially came to the redshirt decision after consultation between himself, his father and the coaching staff. “I feel like what’s best for me in my life is also what’s best for the team. Anything I can do to influence people and the team, I’m willing to do that.”

Mallette converted 42 percent of his attempts from three-point range in the 2023-24 season, and while his previously expected impact on the 2025-26 team is now moot, he adds a new offensive dimension to a very strong roster as it stands it needs additional. As he gave a glimpse of what he brings to the table on Wednesday, he showed poise and commitment (as well as range) in the face of one of the toughest environments in all of college basketball.

“Super happy…Houston, selfless enough to take his redshirt,” Oats said. “He was great.”

Alabama Basketball destroys North Carolina for its first road win of the season