Alabama Men's Basketball Adds Kentucky Transfer Brandon Garrison

Former top-50 recruit joins Crimson Tide roster after two seasons with Wildcats

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:51am

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Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide have added their first player via the transfer portal, with former Kentucky forward Brandon Garrison committing to the program. Garrison, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward from Oklahoma City, spent the last two seasons with the Wildcats, starting five games and averaging 4.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.5 steals per game in 2025-26.

Why it matters

Garrison's addition provides Alabama with a talented frontcourt piece as they look to build on their success from last season. The Crimson Tide are losing several key contributors, so Garrison's experience and skill set could be valuable in helping the team reload for the upcoming campaign.

The details

Garrison began his college career at Oklahoma State before transferring to Kentucky after the 2023-24 season. With the Wildcats, he started five games and appeared in 36 contests, playing 16.2 minutes per game. His best performance came on February 4, when he scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists in a win over Oklahoma.

  • Garrison announced his intention to transfer from Kentucky on April 3, 2026.
  • He committed to Alabama on April 13, 2026.

The players

Nate Oats

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.

Brandon Garrison

A 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward who spent the last two seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Alabama.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to add Brandon to our roster. He's a talented big man who will provide depth and experience in the frontcourt.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide

What’s next

Garrison will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at Alabama and will look to make an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide in the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Alabama continues to be active in the transfer portal, adding a former top-50 recruit in Brandon Garrison to help reload their roster for the upcoming season. Garrison's size, skill, and experience should provide a valuable boost to the Crimson Tide's frontcourt.