Nate Oats announces Alabama freshman is out indefinitely with a medical condition
By Derek Hryn
Published:
Alabama basketball will be without one of its young big men as it gears up for a major early-season test. Head coach Nate Oats announced Wednesday that freshman center Collins Onyejiaka will be out indefinitely with a medical condition, while forward Keitenn Bristow remains doubtful for Thursday’s home matchup against No. 2 Purdue.
The update leaves Alabama thin in the frontcourt heading into a showdown with one of college basketball’s most dominant post presences in Zach Edey. Onyejiaka, a four-star signee from The Newman School in Boston, saw action in the Crimson Tide’s first two games as a reserve. Bristow, meanwhile, has been sidelined since rolling his ankle in practice before the season opener and has yet to make his regular-season debut.
Nate Oats said freshman center Collins Onyejiaka will be out indefinitely with a "medical condition."
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) November 12, 2025
He also said Keitenn Bristow is doubtful for tomorrow's game vs. Purdue.
With both players expected to sit, Alabama will turn to Aiden Sherrell, Noah Williamson, Taylor Bol Bowen, and London Jemison to handle frontcourt duties. The Tide enter the matchup 2-0, coming off a road win over No. 5 St. John’s, while Purdue also stands at 2-0.
No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 2 Purdue tips off at 7 p.m. ET Thursday inside Coleman Coliseum, with national coverage on ESPN2.
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