Alabama Basketball plans to redshirt Houston Mallette and Naas Cunnigham

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama Basketball is downsizing its roster. Before Monday's opener against UNC Asheville, Nate Oats announced that the Crimson Tide plans to redshirt Houston Mallette and Naas Cunningham this year.

Mallette, a senior transfer from Pepperdine, has one season of eligibility left. Cunningham, a true freshman, will have to play four seasons.

“We have decided in discussions with them and their families that we will redshirt Houston Mallette and Naas Cunningham,” Oats told Crimson Tide Sports Network. “Houston, more than that, he missed the whole summer with some knee injuries. And with the year of college basketball still ahead of him, he wants to have the best offseason possible before the season begins. And Naas, it's beneficial for him to gain some weight.” . It’s a lot easier to put on some weight when you’re not playing games.”

Mallette transferred to Alabama this offseason after averaging 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for Pepperdine last season. The 6-foot-5 guard shot 43.1% from the field, 41.5% from three-point range and 81.7% from the free throw line. He received an honorable mention from the entire WCC.

“He’s trying to be a professional,” Oats told reporters after the game. “And without the offseason, I think we would have put him behind the eight ball he plays this year. So we had a long discussion with him, his dad and all of us deciding what would be best if he really learned how to play. The way we want to play now is going to make us great next year. He’s going to make us great if we just stick with the program.”

Cunningham signed with Alabama as the No. 50 overall player in this year's class. The 6-foot, 175-pound forward averaged 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Rolling Loud in the Overtime Elite League.

“We kept it up until last weekend,” Oats said. “He needs to be more physical. He needs to gain some weight. With our strength, I wasn't sure how many minutes he would play in some of these games…

“We still think Naas have a ridiculously big lead. He's a 6'3″ guard who shoots really well and has tons of athleticism. He just needs to put on a lot of weight and kind of figure out how we play.

Mallette and Cunningham were unable to warm up with the rest of the team during the pregame shootaround. Without the duo, the Tide's roster includes 11 active scholarship players.