John Petty Named Preseason All-SEC

Heading into the final season of an impressive Crimson Tide career, Alabama basketball's John Petty was named to the Preseason First-Team All-SEC team.

Petty finished the shortened 2019-20 season on the 2nd-Team All-SEC after leading the Crimson Tide to a 16-15 record where he averaged 14.5 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, and 1.1 steals per game. Under then first-year head coach Nate Oats high-adrenaline scheme, Petty made his mark as a 3-point sharpshooter, hammering home an SEC-best 44% from behind the arc, a full 10% improvement on his sophomore campaign.

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Petty is expected to take a similar role in 2020-21, creating open shots for himself from downtown. Thanks to his production, Petty should see himself crowned as the best 3-point shooter in Alabama history, as he sits just 30 made 3-pointers and 133 attempts from Brian Williams records. Petty currently shares the all-time 3-point percentage record with Eric Washington, which by season's end should also belong solely to number 23.

The pressure is on for Petty to lead the team to an NCAA Tournament bid. The Crimson Tide was ranked no. 25 in the Coach's poll Thursday and is projected to finish fifth in the SEC. With just two tourny appearances in the last decade, the most recent in 2018 the basketball program is aiming for lofty goals.

Petty returned to the program in August after clarifying his options at the next level. Leading his team to a tournament appearance and staying sharp from the arc could see his name in NBA Draft Lottery conversations. In the long run, that only helps the Crimson Tide basketball program, which has already seen a recruiting renaissance under Oats.

The full All-SEC team is as follows:

First Team All-SEC

John Petty Jr., Alabama

Keyontae Johnson, Florida

Brandon Boston Jr., Kentucky

Trendon Watford, LSU

John Fulkerson, Tennessee

Second Team All-SEC

Olivier Sarr, Kentucky

Javonte Smart, LSU

Dru Smith, Missouri

AJ Lawson, South Carolina