The Tucker Topics: How does Alabama fend off the growing out-of-state transfer epidemic?
The first official day of basketball practice for Alabama High School Athletic Association members tipped off on Monday. As programs, coaches, and players ushered in the Christmas-like feeling, some took to social media to announce rosters and numbers for the upcoming season.
One of those teams to unveil a roster was 6A power Pinson Valley. However, there was a notable omission from the Indians’ roster: junior Clyde Walters, the top-ranked 2026 prospect in the state.
And yes, if you hear those noises in the background, there’s a pretty good chance it’s moans and groans from basketball fanatics across the state saying “we’ve seen this story before.”
Well, come Wednesday morning, Walters announced his transfer to the historic New Hampshire-based Brewster Academy, one of the top prep schools in the country.
In turn, the announcement delivered yet another gut-wrenching blow to AHSAA basketball as a whole. Because you see, the state of Alabama has seen this story before indeed — four times in the 2026 graduating class, to be precise.
Of course, the subject of the story is other states raiding Alabama for top prep basketball talent.
- Caleb Holt: Buckhorn to Grayson (GA)
- Colben Landrew: Thompson to Wheeler (GA)
- Ladarius Given: JAG to John Marshall (VA)
- Clyde Walters: Pinson Valley to Brewster Academy (NH)
Choose a year and there’s a good chance you can name a player or two that left the state for different reasons. It’s easy in recent years:
The Class of 2024 lost two of its premier players, Labaron Philon (Baker) and Chase McCarty (Westminster Christian Academy), prior to their senior campaigns to top national prep teams respectively in Link Academy and IMG Academy.
Current senior Trey Simpson, a top five player in the state’s 2025 class, made the move from Hillcrest-Evergreen to Florida’s DME Academy in mid-August. He then announced his commitment to Murray State in September.
With Walters’ departure, the state of Alabama hasn’t only lost four members of the 2026 class. We’ve lost four high-major prospects that should end up being top 100 players nationally, with one being in the conversation as the top-ranked player in the country.
The list could go on and on of players from the past that have left state lines to compete on the hardwood. But, as a state, we have to draw a line in the sand with this 2026 group.
Those are four players that will ultimately suit up as Power Four conference players. Givan, a 6-foot-8 forward, is already committed to Mississippi State. The others all hold scholarship offers from high-major programs.
Let all of that sink in for a moment.
That’s not good for the overall health of high school basketball in Alabama.
Like I said previously, all of these players have different reasons and motivations for leaving the school, program, and community they’ve been familiar with for so long.
And, before I go further, let me be clear here: I don’t fault any kids, parents, or families on their decisions. If you think it’s the best opportunity and situation, you have to go for it. In the crazy transfer portal era, in a way, you have to be selfish. It’s a dog eat dog world out there.
So that leads to discussions about futures and what basketball holds down the road.
For some, they leave because of competition (or lack thereof). Talented players want to be challenged day in and day out, from games to practice. Iron sharpens iron.
For others, it’s leaving bad situations to go to a superior program (and state) that prioritizes basketball and development.
And, for a select few, the reason is financial and NIL related.
And then you have college programs who want to ‘stash’ players for safe keeping, leaving prospective student-athletes with coaches who they have strong relationships with at the prep level, in hopes of 1.) seeing improvement from the player and 2.) ultimately gaining a commitment from said player.
I think all these scenarios have been in play for the handful of players I mentioned above. One day down the road, we’ll see if those were the correct decisions these players and their circles made.
But, I know this as a fact right now: we have to get all this figured out in a hurry.
By we, I’m referring to the AHSAA. I’m referring to the Alabama Association of Basketball Coaches (AABC). I’m referring to all the travel basketball coaches involved. I’m referring to the entire state basketball community.
We’ve come such a long way in a short amount of time when it comes to basketball in our state. The shot-clock is here, the AABC is prevalent, and I think discussions about altering the current playoff structure will ultimately take place.
All of those are fantastic things for basketball in Alabama, but changes need to be made to ensure we don’t lose the best and most exciting players our state has to offer.
If losing four high-major prospects in one graduating class isn’t a red flag, I don’t know what is.
Alabama, let’s start that conversation.
