Alabama Basketball Newcomer Breakdown: Mohamed Wague

Wague, a transfer from West Virginia, was a late addition that will give the Crimson Tide very solid frontcourt depth and lots of potential for future development.

This is the fifth in a multi-part series where BamaCentral's Blake Byler will crunch the numbers and break down the film to give you everything you need to know about each of Alabama basketball's newcomers. 

It used to be abnormal for a college basketball team to add a player in July, but in the age of the transfer portal, roster construction has become a year-round endeavor. 

On July 5, Alabama added its fourth transfer to a loaded portal class, with the commitment of former West Virginia forward Mohamed Wague. Wague spent his sophomore season with the Mountaineers last year, but was a late entrant into the portal due to former West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins' untimely exit from the program. 

Last year, Wague played a limited role, averaging just 10 minutes per game throughout the season, and posted averages of 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds while converting on over 74 percent of his field goal attempts. 

Before Morgantown, the 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward began his career at Harcrum College, a JUCO school in Pennsylvania. Wague lived in Mali for much of his life before moving back to New York, where he was born, to commit to playing basketball in high school.

While at Harcrum for the 2021-22 season, Wague was one of the best big men in the NJCAA, averaging nearly 15 points and 12 rebounds a game, leading the country in total rebounds, and ranking third in the country in total blocks. His efforts earned him a JUCO All-American selection.

Now joining Alabama, Wague will have two years of eligibility remaining, and he joins a frontcourt that has been comepletely reshaped since center Charles Bediako exited to the NBA. In all likelihood, Wague will serve as a backup "5" to Nick Pringle, who is the Crimson Tide's lone returning big man from its SEC Championship team last season. Rounding out the bigs are skilled North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson and incoming top-40 freshman Jarin Stevenson. 

What would Wague provide as a backup big? Just about everything you would want someone in that role to give you. Let's start with his inside game. Last season, Wague shot 80 percent on his looks at the rim, with good body control, effective touch around the rim, and capable post-up skills. 

Alabama doesn't typically utilize true back-to-the-basket post-ups, but that could be attributed to the types of big men Alabama has fielded in recent years. The following plays show Wague's ability in that area that could be made of use by Nate Oats if needed. 

In the first clip, Wague has his man backed down to the block, and whenever he picks up his dribble, he uses his long frame to complete and effective drop step to give himself good position in relation to the basket. After a pump fake to get the defender in the air, he readjusts and finishes the layup with ease. 

The second play shows West Virginia playing against a zone, and Wague patiently sitting just inside the paint awaiting a pass. After receiving the pass he is double-teamed, but doesn't lose control of the ball, but instead pivots into a baby jump hook without appearing too bothered by the tight defense. 

The second play also shows Wague playing near the "dunker spot," which is the area between the lane and the short corner near the baseline. Alabama heavily utilizes the dunker spot for dump-off passes when a ball handler draws help side defense on a drive, allowing for an open dunk or layup. Players like Pringle and Juwan Gary have been used by Oats in that spot in the past, and it would be a natural spot for Wague to play in with his athleticism.

Speaking of his athleticism, it is best showcased watching him run rim to rim in transition, which is an essential skill for all Alabama big men.

Rim running is the skill of being able to defend the rim on the defensive end and sprinting to the other rim for an open look, typically catching the opposing big man off guard since the defense isn't able to get set up.

Both above plays show Wague's athleticism, with him catching a lob in transition in the first play, and his long strides outrunning three Florida defenders in the second play. 

Wague thrived in transition last year, scoring 1.4 points per possession in transition scenarios over the course of the season. That mark ranked him in the 90th percentile statistically. 

The other necessary skill for a big man is rebounding, both on the offensive and defensive end of the floor. Size is important for rebounding, but effort matters equally as much. The high motor Wague plays with has allowed him to be a very strong rebounder on both ends of the floor, which leads to more possessions and second chance points.

Both plays exhibit Wague's relentlessness on the glass, continually fighting for both position and the ball. The most impressive of these two plays was against Florida, were the Gators' Jason Jitoboh, who outweighs Wague by over 70 pounds, still gets outrebounded despite having position when the shot went up.

Wague has a knack for finding the ball, indicated by his offensive rebound percentage of 19.5 last year. While it was in limited minutes, it was the highest percentage on West Virginia's team, and outpaced every player on Alabama's team as well. 

The final area of Wague's game that will be most on display for the Crimson Tide is his rim protection, and it may be the attribute that could garner him the most playing time. 

Wague has fantastic vertical athleticism, and respectable lateral quickness to go along with it. In the first play he has to chase a defender out on to the 3-point line, and while he can't stay in front of the offensive player, he forces him into the help so that he can time a jump to swat the shot away. 

In the second clip, Wague gets caught trailing his opponent after a screen, but he's able to secure a block off the backboard by maintaining verticality and being disciplined with his body positioning. 

Wague posted an excellent block rate of 5.7 percent last season, and after losing Bediako, there is a legitimate question about where Alabama's primary rim protection will come from. Pringle dealt with issues being out of position last season, although he has the athleticism, and there are questions about Nelson's defense carrying over from playing in the Summit League. 

If Wague can excel on the defensive end of the floor, he makes the case for even more playing time than what he was already in line for.

The biggest concerns when it comes to Wague's game are primarily the undisciplined nature of his game. He struggled mightily with turnovers last season, many of which came from mental mistakes such as moving screens or cheap fouls. He hasn't shown much of an outside game on film, but videos have surfaced on social media of a developing 3-point shot, which would give Oats even more of a reason to put him out on the floor. 

When the season begins, it will be hard for Wague to unseat Pringle or Nelson, the assumed starters on the inside, but the value he provides as a depth big is more than enough to make him an essential part of the rotation. His size, motor, and athleticism make him an intriguing developmental prospect as well, who could see even more playing time if he's around for an additional year in 2024-25.

See also:

Alabama Basketball Newcomer Breakdown: Davin Cosby Jr.