Avery Johnson 'a five-star general' who'll attract five-star talent to Alabama
Avery Johnson (left) looks on as Cassandra Johnson kisses their son Avery Jr. during senior introductions at Plano West High School in Plano, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2014. (Dallas Morning News photo)
By
Kevin Scarbinsky | kscarbinsky@al.com
on April 07, 2015 at 7:52 AM, updated April 07, 2015 at 8:21 AM
You think
Avery Johnson can't recruit because he's spent his entire career in the NBA and has never been a college basketball coach?
Scott Pospichal isn't buying what you're selling.
"Oh my gosh, no," Pospichal told AL.com. "When he walks in the gym, he'll have everybody's attention. The University of Alabama got itself a five-star general."
One of Johnson's nicknames is Little General, and Pospichal has seen his star power for himself. He coached Johnson's son, Avery Jr., on a powerhouse AAU team, the Texas Titans, who played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.
Before Avery Jr. got to Texas A&M, where he just finished his freshman season, he traveled all over the country with the Titans playing in high-profile tournaments, and his father traveled with them.
"He's been around the elite basketball players in the country with his son," Pospichal said. "Wherever Avery Johnson goes, all the best players on the other teams are like, 'That's Avery Johnson. Hey, coach. Hey, coach.'
"What do these kids want? They want to play in college, and they want to go to the NBA. What kid doesn't want to be coached by an NBA coach?"
Pospichal knows what big-time recruits want because he's coached plenty of them. In addition to Johnson Jr., other Titan players have included
Matt Jones of Duke,
Damian Jones of Vanderbilt and
Julius Randle of Kentucky, who's now with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pospichal said Johnson would attend Titan practices and "we'd go over things. My guys loved him. The parents loved him. He's a charismatic guy. He has a good way of making people feel important."
That included Pospichal himself. When Johnson was coaching in the NBA, he'd invite the Titans coach to training camp and let him sit in on some coaches' meetings. When Johnson was following his son with the Titans, he'd offer advice to Pospichal, "but he was always a gentleman about it."
One example: The Titans had suffered a lopsided loss in a tournament at Sacramento, with several of their players injured.
"I walked back to the hotel thinking we're in big trouble," Pospichal said. "I see Avery. He says, 'Coach, you want to talk?' We talked for two hours."
Pospichal said he's known former Alabama coach
Anthony Grant since Grant was a Miami Senior High School assistant to legendary high school coach
Shakey Rodriguez.
"Understand that I love Anthony Grant, but Avery has a different personality," Pospichal said. "He'll be so strong for the Alabama community and the Alabama brand."
Pospichal spoke to Johnson about the Alabama job.
"He said he's excited and ready for the challenge. What a big-time guy. He's just brilliant. He's going to do incredible things at Alabama."
It'll start with the Crimson Tide recruiting and landing a different level of player than it did under Grant. Don't be surprised when the "five-star general" starts attracting five-star talent.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/04/high-profile_aau_coach_says_al.html
