Chris Youngblood update: Alabama guard expected to make debut vs. Creighton
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Chris Youngblood is expected to make his Alabama debut on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide guard suffered an ankle injury in the preseason that required surgery and missed the first nine games of the year. But Nate Oats said he could play against Creighton.
“Chris has practiced in still a limited role. We haven’t had him do everything,” Oats said. “But I would anticipate him getting some minutes. It’s not just whether his ankle’s right. He hasn’t gone hard, so his whole body’s gotta get ready to play. He had a little bit of a hiccup (on Thursday), but he was able to go some today.
“As long as he recovers from today alright, I would anticipate him playing limited minutes tomorrow.”
Youngblood transferred to Alabama this offseason after spending the 2023-24 season at South Florida. The Tuscaloosa native was named the American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year after leading the Bulls to their first-ever, regular-season conference title with a 25-8 record. Playing in all 33 games – with 32 starts – Youngblood averaged a team-high 15.3 points along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He scored in double figures in 27 games and shot 41.6 percent from three-point range and 45.8 percent from the field.
Before USF, Youngblood spent the first three years of his college career at Kennesaw State. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound guard chose to return to Tuscaloosa for his final year of eligibility and enrolled at Alabama as the nation’s No. 38 transfer and No. 11 small forward, per On3.
Youngblood will make his Alabama debut two games after the Tide lost veteran guard Latrell Wrightsell to a season-ending Achilles injury. Youngblood’s perimeter shooting can help to minimize the loss – Youngblood’s career 3-point percentage is 39.4 percent, while Wrightsell shot 38.6. The fifth-year senior will join an Alabama backcourt also featuring Mark Sears, Labaron Philon and fellow transfers Aden Holloway and Houston Mallette.
Alabama will face Creighton in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network).
*** This story will be updated.
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The post Chris Youngblood update: Alabama guard expected to make debut vs. Creighton appeared first on On3.
