Chris Youngblood NBA Invite
Tuscaloosa, Ala.With a game as smooth as sweet tea and a name built for highlight reels, Chris Youngblood is making waves deeper than the Black Warrior River. The Alabama men’s basketball guard has officially been invited to the NBA G League Elite Camp, putting him one step closer to the pros and giving Alabama fans another reason to keep their eyes on the hardwood, even during the offseason.
From Transfer to Takeoff
Just a year ago, Youngblood was still adjusting to a new home in Tuscaloosa after transferring from South Florida. Now, he’s suiting up for a chance to prove himself in front of NBA executives, scouts, and team personnel when the G League Elite Camp tips off in Chicago on May 11–12. The invitation is more than just a nodit’s a runway. One that, for many players, leads directly to the NBA Draft Combine, depending on how brightly they shine under the Windy City lights.
Numbers That Speak Louder
In his 2023-24 campaign with the Crimson Tide, Youngblood averaged 8.1 points per game, shooting an efficient 47.4% from the field. More impressively, he knocked down 38.7% of his shots from behind the arc. That’s more than just respectableit’s elite spot-up shooting on a team overflowing with offensive talent. For a rotation player tasked with spacing the floor and keeping defenses honest, Youngblood did everything asked of him and more. His ability to make perimeter shots under pressure earned him critical minutes in games that mattered. And make no mistake, NBA scouts noticed.
Built for Big Moments
“He’s the kind of player who doesn’t flinch,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said earlier this season. “Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, he brings toughness and professionalism every time.” That laser-focused mentality will serve Youngblood well in Chicago, where he’ll be competing against peers trying to claw their way into the draft conversation.
And don’t let the calm demeanor fool youthis is a player who understands the stakes. The NBA G League Elite Camp provides roughly 45–50 draft-eligible prospects a platform to demonstrate their skills through drills, team scrimmages, and measurements conducted by NBA staff. From here, the top performers are invited to the NBA Draft Combine, where stakes double and dreams get made.
Alabama’s Pipeline to the Pros
Youngblood’s invite continues a surging trend for Alabama basketball, a program that’s been churning out NBA-level talent under Oats with the same efficiency that Nick Saban once turned five-star recruits into NFL stars. From Herbert Jones to Brandon Miller, Tuscaloosa has become more than just a football factoryit’s a breeding ground for hoops heroes.
“This is a big deal for Chris, but also for the program,” said Oats. “It shows recruits that players can come here, develop, and get seen on the national stage.”
More Than Just A Shooter
What makes Youngblood’s game so G League-worthy isn’t just his shooting touchwhich is pure velvetit’s his versatility and mature decision-making. At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, he’s built like a linebacker but moves with finesse. That combination of size and skill makes him an intriguing two-way player at the pro level. He knows when to take a smart shot, when to make the extra pass, and how to stay locked in on defense.
The G League Camp will allow him to showcase all of that, in a setting designed to separate prospects from pretenders. And if the moment is too big? Well, Youngblood doesn’t play like someone who’s easily rattled.
What’s Next?
The NBA Draft is fast approaching in June. For now, Youngblood has his shotliterally and figuratively. A strong showing in Chicago could mean an invitation to the NBA Combine and potentially hearing his name called on draft night, or inking a G League or Summer League contractpaths that have launched more than a few successful NBA careers.
Either way, the invite is a deserved recognition of the work this young guard has put inand a testament to the ever-growing footprint of Alabama basketball on the national stage.
Final Buzzer
Chris Youngblood may not have been a five-star phenom out of high school or a projected first-round pick heading into this season, but he’s showing that work ethic + opportunity + ice-cold shooting is a formula that still works. The G League Elite Camp is his next proving groundand if history’s any guide, we wouldn’t bet against him.
Stay tuned, because Chris Youngblood’s story isn’t doneit might just be getting started.
