National Analyst Ranks Tide Top Team in SEC
The excitement for Crimson Tide basketball is at a fever pitch with the return of John Petty and the incoming 12th ranked 2020 recruiting class. Entering his second year at the Capstone, Nate Oats has completely revamped his roster in preparation for a successful 2020 season.
The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline has now come and gone and national basketball analyst Jeff Goodman of watchstadium.com has revealed his preseason top-25 rankings. Goodman ranks the Alabama Crimson Tide team 18th in the nation and makes them the top team in the SEC.
The Tide will be lead at point guard by Villanova-transfer Jahvon Quinerly. Quinerly was a five-star prospect out of Hudson Catholic High School, he played one season for the Wildcats prior to transferring to Tuscaloosa.
His freshman year at Villanova he played in 25 games, averaging 9 minutes, 3 points and 1 assist per game. Videos featuring Quinerly taking on departing point guard Kira Lewis has left Crimson Tide fans salivating in anticipation.
Jaden Shackelford returns for his sophomore year after torching the SEC to a tune of 15 points per game. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team last season and will be expected to pick up right where he left off for the Tide to be successful.
Petty's return was the icing on the cake as he finished his junior year second in the conference in 3-point shots made and 3-point percentage while also leading the team in rebounds per game.
Oats brought in grad-transfer Jordan Bruner from Yale who's addition will give the Tide a presence in the post. Bruner averaged a double-double last season in the Ivy League.
Should the team stay healthy, the coach's main issue will be dividing playing time throughout the roster. The excitement for Alabama basketball is boiling in Crimson Tide fans heading into 2020 with the influx of highly ranked prospects. It is now up to Oats and company to meet the high expectations placed upon the program by both the fans and the pundits.
Alabama Basketball All-Time Scoring Leaders