Latrell Wrightsell Jr. Lights Up Coleman Coliseum in Statement Return for Alabama
The crowd at Coleman Coliseum may not have hit full volume like it did when Kentucky came to town, but Latrell Wrightsell Jr. made sure it sounded like a packed house Tuesday night. In Alabama’s emphatic 90-64 win over Missouri, the veteran guard delivered the kind of performance that echoed far beyond the final buzzer.
Midway through the second half, with Alabama comfortably in control, an announcement over the PA system encouraged fans to move closer to the court. They got more than just a better view-they got a front-row seat to a player who looked every bit back to form. Wrightsell, who’s battled through a frustrating run of injuries since the preseason, finally had his breakout moment.
And it was worth the wait.
After easing back into the lineup over the weekend against Tennessee-where he quietly posted the team’s second-highest scoring total-Wrightsell exploded against Missouri. He dropped 21 points, all from behind the arc, in a shooting display that reminded everyone what he’s capable of when healthy.
“I would just say it’s a blessing,” Wrightsell said postgame. “I’ve put in a lot of work to get to where I am right now. I know it hasn’t been shown with the numbers, but I’ve been putting up a lot of shots, and in due time, I know I’ll ball out.”
That time came Tuesday.
Wrightsell’s journey back has been anything but smooth. A ruptured Achilles sidelined him for most of the 2024-25 season, and even the leg that didn’t suffer the injury has given him trouble this year. But against Missouri, he looked like the player Alabama hoped they’d see when they brought him in-confident, quick, and lethal from deep.
The turning point came midway through the second half. Between the 11:52 and 9:27 marks, Wrightsell caught fire, hitting four straight threes to account for 12 points in just over two minutes. It was part of a 14-2 run that completely buried Missouri’s hopes of a comeback.
“Based on tonight, it looks like he’s back,” said Alabama head coach Nate Oats.
Wrightsell finished the night 7-of-11 from the field, all seven makes coming from three-point range. After starting the game 1-for-4, he found his rhythm and never looked back, tying his season high in scoring.
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates had no choice but to tip his cap. “He was great,” Gates said of Wrightsell’s game-changing stretch.
For Wrightsell, it’s been a long climb back to this moment. But Tuesday night wasn’t just a feel-good story-it was a reminder of how dangerous Alabama can be when he’s clicking.
“It’s finally paying off, so I just want to thank the Lord for that,” Wrightsell said.
With the win, Alabama moves to 14-6 overall and 4-3 in SEC play. Up next, the Crimson Tide hit the road for a Sunday showdown with Florida. If Wrightsell keeps trending upward, Alabama’s ceiling just got a whole lot higher.