University of Kansas basketball recruiting

Just five days after reportedly requesting his release from his letter of intent to attend Kansas, point guard Labaron Philon committed to Alabama on Sunday.

Philon, who is a four-star recruit and ESPN’s No. 30 prospect in the class of 2024, posted in his announcement on Instagram that he was “home free.” He will be playing in his home state, as he is originally from Mobile, though he has recently played high school basketball for Link Academy in Branson, Missouri.

Philon had previously pledged to Auburn, the Crimson Tide’s Iron Bowl rival, before reopening his recruitment, committing to KU in the fall and then signing on Nov. 8.

He told AL.com that Alabama has the “best system in the country.” The Crimson Tide made the Final Four in the 2024 NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

Philon is the third prospective freshman recruit to back out of attending KU in the last year, after Chris Johnson and Marcus Adams Jr. did so ahead of last season (in Adams’ case after arriving on campus in June).

Neither found much playing time during the 2023-24 season, with Johnson at Texas and Adams at BYU after a brief period of time committed to Gonzaga. Johnson has since transferred to Stephen F. Austin, while Adams is in the portal.

The Jayhawks filled Philon’s vacated scholarship spot with incoming junior wing Rylan Griffen — who, as it happens, transferred to KU from Alabama. KU is now at 12 scholarship players, unless Johnny Furphy withdraws from the draft, in which case it will reach the maximum 13.