Former Miami guard Jalil Bethea has committed to Alabama and head coach Nate Oats after entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. Bethea picked the Crimson Tide over several programs, including Kansas State, NC State, and the possibility of returning to Miami.
As a true freshman at Miami, Bethea appeared in 31 games, averaging 7.1 points per contest. He shot 36.8% from the floor and 32.6% from three-point range, while also converting over 80% of his free throws during the season.
Despite entering college with high expectations, Bethea’s freshman performance at Miami fell short of his recruiting hype, where he was projected to be a key contributor in Coral Gables.
Now, he’ll aim for a fresh start in Tuscaloosa, hoping to reach his full potential under Nate Oats and the Alabama coaching staff.
Jalil Bethea starred at Archbishop Wood in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where he earned five-star status and was ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2025 class by the On3 Industry Ranking, which aggregates evaluations from all major recruiting services.
On3’s Jamie Shaw praised Bethea’s offensive prowess, noting, “It is the scoring with Jalil Bethea that you walk away talking about.” Shaw highlighted Bethea’s ability to score efficiently at all three levels, his strong physical tools including length and athleticism, and his versatile jump shot, which he can hit off the catch, movement, or dribble—despite occasional inconsistency in his release.
Jamie Shaw also noted that Bethea is most effective as a ball-handler when limited to two or three dribbles, suggesting improvement is needed with extended handling. Defensively, he has the tools—length and athleticism—to be impactful but must remain consistently engaged. Shaw praised Bethea’s confidence, smooth demeanor, and shooting ability, pointing out his 40.8% three-point shooting and 1.17 points per possession for Team Final on the Nike EYBL Circuit.
As of Wednesday, March 26, more than 1,250 men’s college basketball players had entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, with that number expected to climb as the 2024–25 season concludes. The transfer portal wire tracks this activity in real time, offering details such as player profiles, transfer rankings, original On3 Industry recruiting evaluations, and current NIL valuations.
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