TAMPA — Shoes in hand, Alabama basketball players filed through the tunnels of Benchmark International Arena.
Some carried custom creations while others − like Florida State transfer forward Taylor Bol Bowen − opted for Nike Kobe 5 Protros in University Red, which feature a gold-foil snake wrapped around the brand’s iconic Swoosh.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr., however, is often seen carrying no less than two pairs of basketball shoes, from bold cheetah prints to mismatched neons that are designed to go together.
If the veteran could have brought every shoe in the rotation on the Crimson Tide’s March Madness run, he would have. He just owns a couple hundred too many to fit on the plane.
“I’m not the shoe man,” Wrightsell told The Tuscaloosa News on Saturday, March 21.
After saying he had just “a couple pairs,” Wrightsell estimated that he had “over 200” pairs of shoes, and his interest in collecting expands to those made strictly for street style.
Prior to warm-ups, Wrightsell showed off his Nike Off-White Air Force 1s made by Virgil Abloh. He added that he can be anywhere from a size 12 to size 13 depending on the brand.
The shoes he wore the day before Alabama faces Texas Tech are selling from $2,200 to $2,500 dollars on designer resale sites like GOAT.
His favorite day-to-day pairs are his Travis Scott Air Jordan 1s.
“I traveled with four pairs here (in Tampa). I’ve worn two since I’ve been here,” Wrightsell said. “I like all the brands, Nike, Jordans for sure. But I like some of these new designer shoes coming out, like Bottegas and Louis Vuitton.”
While Wrightsell doesn’t have a brand preference, he said he can’t wear a flat shoe. Shoe selection has become that much more important for the sixth-year player after his 2024-25 season ended due to a ruptured Achilles Tendon.
“What makes a comfortable shoe is the sole of the shoe. The sole has to be padded really well,” Wrightsell continued. “If the shoe’s flat, it’s hard for me to wear them that much. I wear a lot of orthotics in my shoes to help with my feet. And I need a comfortable shoe.”
When asked if there was another teammate who owned more kicks, Wrightsell gave a revealing answer.
“On this team? No,” Wrightsell said.
He was then asked if there could be anyone who had close to as many as Wrightsell did.
“Probably not,” he smiled.
Wrightsell can downplay the title of being “shoe man” all he wants, but on this team, the shoe fits.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@tuscaloosanews. She can be reached via email at [email protected]. Chase Goodbread contributed to this story.
