Alright, strap in folks, because we’re taking a trip down Transfer Lane. We have Rylan Griffen zigzagging back to what may just hopefully be his alma mater—Alabama—where it all started. This is like a college basketball drama with a rewind button.
Here’s the lowdown: last season, Kansas Jayhawks snagged Griffen from Alabama, expecting him to rain down threes and bring that sweet SEC rhythm to Lawrence. Sad to say, it didn’t quite pan out. It happens, right? Despite hyped expectations, Rylan ended up averaging just 6.3 points per game on a somewhat shaky 37.2% field goal percentage. And let’s not even talk about the three-pointers… that shot needed a GPS last season.
Basketball
Want to Learn More About Transferring?
Checkout our Guide to the Basketball Transfer Portal
But back to Griffen’s journey. After a less than stellar year (no offense, Kansas), Griffen decided to pack his bags and hopes for a slam dunk senior season elsewhere. And where’s he headed? Back to the Bama fam. Yup, starting Friday, Griffen’s basking in all the Tuscaloosa vibes he left behind a bit ago.
You might recall, he was previously chatting with Miami and Kentucky too, but the Bluegrass State tour got benched. Now Alabama looks like a cosmic kind of reunion. Flashback to 2024, Griffen and the Crimson Tide hit the Final Four—big-time basketball memories.
Oh, and about Kansas, there’s chatter in the grapevine that things didn’t work out due to—let’s say—creative differences with the coaching style. Folks are whispering about Bill Self possibly miscasting him, but that’s all up for speculation. One thing’s for sure, though: Griffen needs to find his groove.
Could this second Tommy Tutone-style trip to Alabama be the way to revive that swoosh and swing? That’s the million-dollar question, my friends. Alabama fans already know what Griffen can bring when he’s on fire. Here’s hoping Tuscaloosa still feels like home—and sparks that winning streak comeback.
Keep watching this space. Rylan Griffen’s court chronicles are far from over!