Alabama basketball's Labaron Philon has a cousin who is 4-star prospect: Where's he going?
Alabama basketball's Labaron Philon has a four-star prospect relative. How are they related and what school is he choosing?
With his NBA Draft decision official, Labaron Philon's name won't be heard when Alabama basketball takes the court next season. There will still be a Philon roaming the hardwood, though. Joe Philon, a 6-foot-8 forward, is one of the top 12 basketball prospects in Florida and a 4-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
And yes, the Montverde Academy standout is related to the man from Mobile. When asked if the two were family while on a TikTok livestream with Montverde teammate Javion Tyndale, Joe revealed that he and Labaron are cousins. Labaron has not publicly commented on his relation to Joe.
Since Saturday, March 21, Joe has been a hard commit to UCLA. He chose the Bruins over Ohio State, South Florida − then led by former UA assistant Bryan Hodgson − UNLV and Xavier. In a January interview with the Springfield Student , Joe said that he hadn't visited Labaron in Tuscaloosa.
However, he noted that the two "chopped it up a bit" over text. Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.