Alabama basketball forward Derrion Reid will miss his fourth straight game with a lingering hamstring issue. The freshman was once again listed as out on the SEC’s Friday availability report, ahead of the Crimson Tide’s Saturday trip to Tennessee.
Reid missed significant time earlier in the season, but returned for Alabama’s loss to Auburn. After playing five minutes in that game, he was out for UA’s trip to Missouri, and has missed every game since.
Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats said Reid was improving before the Tide’s recent win over Mississippi State, and was week-to-week.
“I think he’s going to be a pro,” Oats said before the Missouri game. “He came in a McDonald’s all-American, he’s got all the intangibles, as far as tough, great attitude, high IQ, he’s athletic, a lot of the stuff that pros are looking for. We really don’t want to hurt his long-term career by rushing something to win a game or two.”
Reid has averaged 7.1 points and 3.2 rebounds when he has been on the court this season. His biggest game of the year came against Creighton in December, when he put up 12 points and four rebounds.
He also gives the Crimson Tide athletic length on the defensive end of the court, something Oats has said UA has missed in his absence.
Reid wasn’t the only Alabama player to appear on the availability report for the Tennessee game. In addition to Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Houston Mallette, who will not play again this season, Mark Sears was listed as probable.
Oats did not mention any potential Sears absence during his press conference on Friday. Sears was also listed as probable for Alabama’s win over Kentucky, a game he started and played well in.
Alabama and Tennessee are scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday in Knoxville. The game will be aired on ESPN.
