By ADAM ZAGORIA
After landing the Alabama job on Wednesday, Nate Oats wasted no time visiting with the state’s top uncommitted prospect.
Oats and his staff flew to visit with 6-foot-8 forward Trendon Watford while Watford was on spring break in Destin, Fla.
“The stressed the style and speed of play,” Ernest Watford, Trendon’s father, told ZAGSBLOG. “They can exploit matchups using Trendon’s versatility and impressive playmaking abilities.”
He added: “[Trendon] likes the idea that Oats is going to change the culture at ‘Bama…The guy is pretty damn ‘sharp.'”
New Alabama coach Nate Oats visiting @Trendon_2 in Florida pic.twitter.com/EEPlZTHD74
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 31, 2019
Watford is down to a final five of Alabama, LSU, Indiana, Memphis and Duke and plans to announce April 20 at the Jordan Brand Classic in Las Vegas.
If Oats were able to land him next month it would be a major coup as he takes over the SEC program. Watford has won three straight state titles for Mountain Brook.
According to 247sports, Watford is ranked No. 27 nationally and is the No. 5 power forward.
“If they hire somebody in the next few weeks or next week and they start recruiting me,” Watford told ZAGSBLOG this week, “then we’ll just go from there.”
2019 @Trendon_2 says Alabama is making him a priority even as they pick a new head coach. Delicate situation as they try to keep the state’s best player at home amid a coaching change. pic.twitter.com/BKzAg2hM7s
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 25, 2019
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