Five-star F Green commits to Alabama after 'priority' push

Five-star forward Zion Green has committed to Alabama, he told ESPN on Saturday, giving coach Nate Oats his second top-25 recruit in the 2027 class.

Green took an official visit to Tuscaloosa in September, while Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Kansas rounded out his final list of schools.

“The campus is beautiful, and the facilities are big-time,” Green told ESPN of Alabama. “They have a video jumbotron to show players film right during practice. A lot of people think that coach doesn’t want midrange shots. He says you can take them as long as you make them.”

“When I attended practice, they were intense,” he added. “Coach Oats holds all of his players accountable. But off the court, he’s funny and likes to joke around.”

Alabama has been involved in Green’s recruitment for several months, extending an offer in the spring.

“They first came to see me when I was at Mount Zion, and that means a lot,” Green said. “They’ve stuck with me throughout this entire process, even when I wasn’t what I am now. They attended almost every one of my games. They made me a priority.”

Green, a 6-foot-9 forward from Philadelphia who transferred to AZ Compass Prep (Arizona) for his senior season, is ranked No. 16 in the SC Next 100 for the class of 2027. He excelled for the As Promised Select program on the Puma Pro16 Circuit but really opened some eyes with his performances at the Border League, as he shot nearly 73% inside the arc and 40% from 3, according to stats and analytics website Cerebro.

At one time, Green was one of the biggest sleepers in the country because of his upside, with a thin frame but noticeable skill. He is beginning to develop consistency in his production, though. His long, lanky frame can be an asset on defense, helping with closeouts, shot contests, deflections and some rim protection. However, it’s his offensive versatility that will shine early at Alabama. He could be a threat by rebounding the ball on the defensive end and pushing it to lead the fast break when appropriate.

“Their play style fits my game,” Green said. “They play an up-tempo game and have had success in the past with players who have my type of frame and skill set.”

Green is the second pickup for Oats and Alabama in the 2027 class, joining Chase Lumpkin (No. 23), who committed in September. Green is the sixth five-star prospect to pick the Crimson Tide since Oats took over in 2019 and marks the third time in the past four classes that Alabama has landed a five-star recruit.