Nov 11, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (3) takes a three pointer from the corner at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated McNeese 72-64. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nate Oats Provides Update on Latrell Wrightsell Jr.'s Injury Recovery

Originally posted on Alabama Crimson Tide on SI
By Hunter De Siver | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Alabama men's basketball guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who ruptured his Achilles early last season, has been cleared for non-contact work and is "doing some basic basketball activities," per CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein and Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats.

Oats previously shared his hopes for Wrightsell suiting up for the Crimson Tide's first game of next season. Alabama will face North Dakota at home on Nov. 3.

"The one that's obviously a little more concerning with how he's going to be ready for next year is Trelly Wrightsell," Oats said on May 14. "But he's way ahead of schedule from everything Clarke tells me he's in there. Clarke says he's working super hard. He's doing everything he needs to do, so we anticipate him being fully ready to go by the first game.

"I mean, he's already jumping. They cleared the jump. He's been up here at Andrews, Dr. Waldrop's in charge of surgery. He's really pleased with where he's at."

An Achilles injury is perhaps the worst a basketball player can sustain and it's caused a lot of careers to diminish. Wrightsell had a lot on his mind when the rupture occurred.

"I was really like, ‘I’m about to quit basketball,'" Wrightsell said on March 20. "I just didn’t want to deal with it. I’ve been through a lot of injuries. The Achilles—my favorite player is Kevin Durant, and I’ve
seen him tear it before—and I just know a lot of people don’t recover from it."

Nevertheless, Wrightsell aims for a major role at Alabama this upcoming season after averaging 11.5 points per game before the injury. He was a valuable contributor to the 2023-24 Final Four team during his first season at Alabama. His 2024 injury initially forced a redshirt off of Houston Mallette, who later received a medical redshirt of his own and is also returning this season.