Labaron Philon is going pro. The Alabama standout formally announced Tuesday that he is declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft.
“I thank God and give him all the glory for blessing me with the last two years in Tuscaloosa,” Philon wrote in a note posted to social media. “Returning for my sophomore season and representing my home state was one of the biggest blessings in my life. Being a kid from Mobile, wearing the Script A on my chest means everything to me and it has been one of the greatest honors to represent the Crimson Tide.
“This school and fan base has given me endless support since I stepped foot on campus two years ago. Thank you to Coach Oats and the entire coaching staff for helping me develop into the player I am today. To my teammates, thank you for pushing me to be a better player and the friendships we have created will last a lifetime.
“To my family, I wouldn’t be the man 1 am today without the unconditional love and support you have given me throughout my life. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for me and allowing me to pursue my dreams. The University of Alabama has prepared me for the next step in my career and I am excited to officially declare for the 2026 NBA Draft. I cannot wait to start the next chapter of my life!”
Philon leaves Alabama after a standout 2 seasons with the Crimson Tide. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2025 and recognized as first-team All-SEC for this past season. He went from averaging 10.6 points per game in 2024-25 to 22 per outing this past season. His 3-point shooting notably improved. After making 39-of-124 as a freshman (31.5%), Philon made 79-of-199 3-pointers in his sophomore season.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
