TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nearly 50 scouts representing 28 of the 30 NBA teams were on hand as the Alabama men's basketball team hosted its first-ever Pro Day on Tuesday afternoon in the Coleman Coliseum practice gym.
NBA scouts and executives were in attendance to watch the team go through a two-hour practice Tuesday. The Crimson Tide showcased a variety of elements during the practice, including drills, in-game situations and an inter-squad scrimmage.
"It was an amazing event," Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said. "It was the first-ever Alabama Pro Day for basketball and all these scouts didn't come to see me, they came to watch our players. Our guys did a great job and were able to showcase their talent.
"We want all of our players to graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree. Those that have NBA-talent, we want to help facilitate that as well."
"It was an awesome experience," sophomore forward Braxton Key said. "The intensity was great and we just competed as hard as we could. This was good experience for us and our program."
Leading up to the Pro Day, the players went through a sophisticated testing format which provided detailed information for the scouts in attendance including vertical leap, bench press, height, hand and reach measurements, as well as reaction, sprint and agility times, among other detailed measurables.
The team was also paid a visit from NBA Players Association executive vice president Chrysa Chin on Oct. 2. Chin, who also met with the families of each player, spoke about career goals for both on and off the court and what it was like as a professional basketball player. It's all part of the plan Johnson has put in place in getting to the Alabama men's basketball program to another level.
"We had a blend of almost every NBA facet represented on our campus," Johnson said. "For all of these scouts and executives to come to Tuscaloosa and watch our student-athletes, visit with our coaching staff and see all of the great facilities we have, it's really special for us. They are looking for a young man who will help them take a next step in their franchise. We are so glad they thought enough of the talent we have on our roster that one of those young men could potentially be that type of person on their team."
NBA scouts and executives were in attendance to watch the team go through a two-hour practice Tuesday. The Crimson Tide showcased a variety of elements during the practice, including drills, in-game situations and an inter-squad scrimmage.
"It was an amazing event," Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said. "It was the first-ever Alabama Pro Day for basketball and all these scouts didn't come to see me, they came to watch our players. Our guys did a great job and were able to showcase their talent.
"We want all of our players to graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree. Those that have NBA-talent, we want to help facilitate that as well."
"It was an awesome experience," sophomore forward Braxton Key said. "The intensity was great and we just competed as hard as we could. This was good experience for us and our program."
Leading up to the Pro Day, the players went through a sophisticated testing format which provided detailed information for the scouts in attendance including vertical leap, bench press, height, hand and reach measurements, as well as reaction, sprint and agility times, among other detailed measurables.
The team was also paid a visit from NBA Players Association executive vice president Chrysa Chin on Oct. 2. Chin, who also met with the families of each player, spoke about career goals for both on and off the court and what it was like as a professional basketball player. It's all part of the plan Johnson has put in place in getting to the Alabama men's basketball program to another level.
"We had a blend of almost every NBA facet represented on our campus," Johnson said. "For all of these scouts and executives to come to Tuscaloosa and watch our student-athletes, visit with our coaching staff and see all of the great facilities we have, it's really special for us. They are looking for a young man who will help them take a next step in their franchise. We are so glad they thought enough of the talent we have on our roster that one of those young men could potentially be that type of person on their team."
