Alabama, Johnson Need Guard Play For Success Next Season

As is with every athletic program, Alabama will feel the effect of losing seniors Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper, but with the departure of two more players due to transfer, what does this mean for Avery Johnson and his squad next season?

Guard Ricky Tarrant, the Tide's second leading scorer last season averaging 13.1 points/game, was granted his release from Alabama last week. Along with Tarrant, freshman Devin Mitchell has now been granted his release from Alabama. Mitchell saw limited action last season, but was a three star recruit coming out of high school, and was projected to see significant playing time next season.

It was assumed that Tarrant would take the reigns as the primary scorer for the Crimson Tide after Randolph graduated, and with Mitchell also transferring, this leaves Avery Johnson in a difficult situation during his first stint as a collegiate head coach.

Not only are two of the more important cogs for next year's team leaving, but Johnson only has two true guards on the roster. In order to make up this attrition, he'll have to hit the recruiting trails hard and build some depth in the back court.

Justin Coleman proved last season that he could be the answer at point guard, and Retin Obasohan was a solid option on the perimeter, really catching fire toward the end of the year, but was often inconsistent. They'll both need help on the perimeter if either want to build on their progression from last season.

Johnson has been busy on the recruiting trails since he was introduced as the head coach, and wanted to reconfirm commitments from a few players that were already 100% behind the Tide.

He met with three star guard Brandon Austin of Montgomery-Carver High School, and he reassured Johnson that his commitment was still firm. Another big recruit that also kept his commitment was four star forward Dont'a Hall (#19 PF in the country).

However, when Alabama decided to part ways with former head coach Anthony Grant, Mr. Alabama Basketball Dazon Ingram, who at the time was committed to the Tide, recanted his commitment. Ingram had signed his financial aid paperwork to Alabama, but not his letter of intent.

One of the top guards in the nation, Ingram would add much needed depth to a depleted Bama back court, as he can play both point guard and shooting guard (he was primarily point guard at Theodore High School).

Keeping his commitment would take some stress away from Johnson and his attempt at building the foundation of his team, but Ingram has now been contacted by Kentucky head coach John Calipari, and as we all know, if Kentucky basketball comes calling, it's awfully hard not to answer the phone.

Although Alabama returns solid players such as Shannon Hale, Michael Kessens, and defensive force Jimmie Taylor, if they can't find a presence on the perimeter, it will be a long year for Avery Johnson during his first year at The Capstone.