Auburn basketball: Potential Langston Wilson pursuit unlikely

The transfer portal has been a boon for Auburn basketball in more ways than one.

While the Tigers have been cleaning up, landing former 5-star big man recruit Walker Kessler from the University of North Carolina, as well as Zep Jasper from the College of Charleston and Wendell Green Jr. from Eastern Kentucky, the reigning SEC Champions (and most hated rivals) Alabama have been making headlines for the wrong reasons.

Sure, they have also had success in the transfer portal, having landed Nimari Burnett out of Texas Tech and Noah Gurley out of Furman, but they also suffered a recent recruiting setback themselves.

After initially committing to the University of Alabama in the fall, it appears Langston Wilson will no longer don Crimson in his jump to Division I college basketball (per 247Sports):

"“First and foremost I want to thank Alabama for all the love and support they have shown this is by far one of the best fan bases in the world!” Wilson said in a statement on Twitter. “With that being said though after long talks with the coaches and those within my inner circle I feel as though that it is best that I am released from my NLI and reopen my recruitment. I love Alabama and they will always be a strong option for me going forward through this process and will remain so please respect my decision as I go through this process. #Godsplan”"

There are rumblings (nothing officially substantiated) Nate Oats might have pulled the scholarship offer after landing several big-name transfers. That is not a good luck considering the Tide HC was caught on camera cursing at LSU after those Tigers lost in the SEC title game to ‘Bama.

It’s been a tale of two recruiting cycles, and Auburn basketball is looking like the clear winner in the head-to-head off-court recruiting rivalry.

And while Tiger fans may be foaming at the mouth wondering if they can intensify the rivalry even more by poaching Wilson away…pumping the brakes is probably the better course of action.

The Auburn frontcourt is loaded right now, with Kessler Walker and Jabari Smith looking like the likely starters at the 4 and 5. Jaylin Williams will also be returning as a junior to aim to reclaim his spot, as unlikely as it may seem.

Oh, and JT Thor could easily return to the Plains if there are no interested NBA suitors in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Even though Wilson projects to provide some frontcourt sizzle, there are already too many cooks in the kitchen.