Alabama’s backcourt took a hit Thursday night, and the timeline on freshman guard Anderson Diaz now points to roughly a month on the shelf.
After the Crimson Tide beat Furman 111-93 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., head coach Nate Oats said Diaz injured his elbow and won’t need surgery, but will instead go through a lengthy rehab process.
"He hurt his elbow," Oats said. "He's probably out a month or so, give or take.
We're going to see how everything goes, but it's not going to require surgery. Just a lot of rehab.
So a little bit disappointing too for him. Just with (Aden) Holloway being suspended those five games, would be a great chance to get Anderson a lot of minutes, kind of playing the point along with Amari.
"But sometimes that's how life goes, and you've got to deal with a little adversity. He's been a great kid.
I love his attitude. I feel bad for him, but if he's working hard, I think he can really add to the team on both sides of the ball.
He gets in the paint a lot and guards the ball really well on the defensive end."
That absence would line Diaz up for a possible return against Oakland on Nov. 9, which would be the third game of the regular season if everything falls on a one-month track. Oats said Alabama’s training staff will work to bring him back without pushing too fast.
"Clarke (Holter), I think we've got the best medical team in the country, so they'll get him back as quick as they can without risking long-term injury for him, and hopefully we see him back here in about a month or so," Oats said.
Diaz arrived at Alabama after reclassifying from the 2027 class to the Crimson Tide’s 2026-27 roster. He picked Alabama over a long list of offers that included Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida State, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, UCLA, Florida A&M, Hampton, Fordham, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's and Villanova.
A Bronx native, Diaz played in the Overtime Elite league and put together a strong 2025-26 season with the Cold Hearts. In 16 games, including 15 starts, he averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 28.6 minutes per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from 3-point range and 75.5 percent at the line.
Back in July, Oats described what Alabama is getting in Diaz with a scouting-style endorsement.
“Anderson Diaz is a very dynamic playmaker that has the ability to extend the court with his three-point range while being able to break down the defense and get paint touches at any moment of the game," Oats said on July 14. "With a 6’6” wingspan, he has quick hands combined with great instincts that gives him the tools to be an elite defender.
Combine that with his ability to create for others, he will be a great addition to our backcourt. We are excited to have him at Alabama.”
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