Here it is, the heart of football season, with several major games to go. Yet Saturday at noon Coach Grant and our hoopsters start preparing for e new season. The excitement is back in Bama hoops, and expectations are higher for this year's team than any year since Wimp Sanderson patrolled our sideline. Just to whet your appetites, I will be doing this preview in four parts.
Part I looks at those guys who made significant contributions last season but won't be playing for us this go around.
Senario Hillman was a highly regarded athlete from the Macon Georgia area who chose to play his hoops with the Tide. Senario had phenomenal hops, speed and quickness and his athleticism made him a highlight reel type player with his steals and acrobatic dunks. Shooting was never a strong point, though he worked hard at it and by the end of his career he had become a good free throw shooter. He leaves as our all time leader in steals.He was a defensive stopper whose contribution will be misssed.
Charvez Davis was a junior college recruit under Coach Gottfried who stuck with us when Coach Grant came. He was recruited to provide us with much needed firepower from the outside, but never consistently filled that role. When he was hot he was very,very hot though. Charvez endeared himself to Bama fans, though, by learning to play defense Coach Grant's way, and becoming a very solid defender.
Chris Hines was anothe rplayer who was part of the last group that former Coach Gottfried brought in. He played power forward and center of the Tide, though at 6"8" and 225 pounds he was a bit undersized for the position he played. If he knew that he never showed it, as effort and determination were the highlights of his game. Chris was a lock down defender and a dogged rebounder who also set a strong pick from time to time. Finding someone to fill his role will be important for our new team.
Andrew Steele's career wasn't supposed to end this way. Almost as highly thought of as his All American brother Ron, he gave up football to take up basketball full time. After injiry plagued season in his first two years, it looked like he had turned the corner last season. He had settled into a role as a defender, ball handler and secondary scorer last season. Then came the game against Kentucky in the SEC tournament, a scuffle for a loose ball, a head hitting the floor. It turned out he had gotten a concussion, his fourth sports related one. After discussion with doctors, family, and Coach Grant, as well as some soul searching, he made what had to be a difficult decision to give up the game he loved.
Four guys are missing who played big roles a year ago, though looking at the scorebook alone won't show it.In each player sketch you see defense mentioned. How well a gang of talented newcomers fill in for these departed players will have a lot to say about how good the 2011-2012 team will be.
Good luck to all of you, and thanks.
Part I looks at those guys who made significant contributions last season but won't be playing for us this go around.
Senario Hillman was a highly regarded athlete from the Macon Georgia area who chose to play his hoops with the Tide. Senario had phenomenal hops, speed and quickness and his athleticism made him a highlight reel type player with his steals and acrobatic dunks. Shooting was never a strong point, though he worked hard at it and by the end of his career he had become a good free throw shooter. He leaves as our all time leader in steals.He was a defensive stopper whose contribution will be misssed.
Charvez Davis was a junior college recruit under Coach Gottfried who stuck with us when Coach Grant came. He was recruited to provide us with much needed firepower from the outside, but never consistently filled that role. When he was hot he was very,very hot though. Charvez endeared himself to Bama fans, though, by learning to play defense Coach Grant's way, and becoming a very solid defender.
Chris Hines was anothe rplayer who was part of the last group that former Coach Gottfried brought in. He played power forward and center of the Tide, though at 6"8" and 225 pounds he was a bit undersized for the position he played. If he knew that he never showed it, as effort and determination were the highlights of his game. Chris was a lock down defender and a dogged rebounder who also set a strong pick from time to time. Finding someone to fill his role will be important for our new team.
Andrew Steele's career wasn't supposed to end this way. Almost as highly thought of as his All American brother Ron, he gave up football to take up basketball full time. After injiry plagued season in his first two years, it looked like he had turned the corner last season. He had settled into a role as a defender, ball handler and secondary scorer last season. Then came the game against Kentucky in the SEC tournament, a scuffle for a loose ball, a head hitting the floor. It turned out he had gotten a concussion, his fourth sports related one. After discussion with doctors, family, and Coach Grant, as well as some soul searching, he made what had to be a difficult decision to give up the game he loved.
Four guys are missing who played big roles a year ago, though looking at the scorebook alone won't show it.In each player sketch you see defense mentioned. How well a gang of talented newcomers fill in for these departed players will have a lot to say about how good the 2011-2012 team will be.
Good luck to all of you, and thanks.
