Alabama basketball is continuing its 2023-24 season Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In the meantime, the Crimson Tide made a move toward its future, landing a commitment from transfer portal guard Houston Mallette.

Mallette joins the Tide after beginning his college career at Pepperdine. He’ll be a senior next season for UA.

The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard scored 14.7 points per game this season for the Waves. He shot 41.5% from the field, and can add a sharpshooting touch to next year’s Alabama team that fits in with what head coach Nate Oats likes to run offensively.

Overall, Mallette shot 43.5% from the field. He grabbed 3.2 rebounds per game, and dished out 2.4 assists.

The Waves went 13-20 this season. Their campaign came to an end with a loss to San Diego in the WCC tournament.

Pepperdine Lorenzo Romar was fired at the conclusion of the season. Mallette entered the transfer portal shortly thereafter.

He was listed as a four-star transfer portal prospect by 247Sports. The service rated him as the No. 2 point guard in the portal, No. 6 overall player.

Coming out of high school at Pacifica Christian in California, Mallette was a three-star prospect according to the 247 composite rankings.