The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball program under Nate Oats has been a factory for sending players to the next level, and Oats now has his seventh player drafted throughout his time in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night.

With the No. 22 overall selection in the first round of the NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected former Crimson Tide superstar and Mobile native Labaron Philon Jr. coming off a stellar two-year career in Tuscaloosa.

Philon was extremely emotional when his name was called, and now he heads to a 76ers team that made the playoffs last season. He could become the final piece they need to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference and break through.

In his post-draft press conference, Philon — who returned for his sophomore season after flirting with the NBA last year and likely would have been drafted — was asked about the state of the Alabama program and what it has become under Oats, and the former Baker High School standout gave a glowing review for why future elite players should come play for the Crimson Tide.

“Nate Oats is a great coach, I trusted him with my career,” he said. “It was a dream of mine to go play for Alabama for two years…I credit [the entire coaching staff], the people they put around me, the ability to have that trust with me…Being able to be there for two years was really special.”