Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi announced his commitment to Alabama on Sunday, giving the Crimson Tide one of the best interior defenders in the country and solidifying them as a top-five team for next season.
Omoruyi chose Nate Oats' program over North Carolina, Kansas State and Georgetown.
Despite a poor season for the Scarlet Knights, Omoruyi, a 6-foot-11 Nigerian center, anchored one of the best defensive teams in the country. He earned All-Big Ten honors and conference All-Defensive Team selections in each of the last two seasons. He averaged 10.4 points and 8.3 rebounds last season, ranking third nationally with 2.9 blocks per game.
He recorded nine double-doubles, including 19 points and 15 rebounds against Michigan and 14 points and 15 rebounds against Nebraska. He also had 22 points and nine rebounds in a loss to Illinois in January.
Omoruyi had his most productive campaign as a junior in 2022-23, averaging 13.2 points and 9.6 rebounds while blocking 2.1 shots.
Oats has now resolved one of the few issues on his roster, with Omoruyi set to fill the center position and protect the rim. Alabama has loaded up on the transfer portal and recruiting trail, adding transfers Chris Youngblood (South Florida), Aden Holloway (Auburn) and Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), while adding a recruiting class among top five that includes forwards Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell and guard Labaron Philon.
Starters Grant Nelson (11.9 points per game) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (8.9 points) return from last year's team.
If All-American and leading scorer Mark Sears opts to withdraw from the NBA draft and return to Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide should make a strong case for the preseason No. 1 seed.
Sears has until May 29 to make a decision.
