TUSCALOOSA — Alabama head basketball coach Avery Johnson has been very careful when addressing his incoming signing class this summer. He’d like it if the media would do the same.
Johnson wasted no time correcting a reporter Tuesday during his annual basketball camp inside Coleman Coliseum. The reporter incorrectly stated that Johnson had said Alabama’s incoming freshmen might start early next season. The head coach was quick to address the error.
“No, I didn’t say start,” Johnson interjected. “Nobody said start, you got to watch your words. First of all, some of them will have an opportunity to play early. Maybe some could mean three or four or two.”
Alabama brings in the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class to Tuscaloosa, its highest-rated haul in program history. Five-star guards Collin Sexton (No. 7 overall) and John Petty (No. 25 overall) headline the class, while four-star forwards Herb Jones (No. 86 overall) and Alex Reese (No. 95 overall) and three-star center Galen Smith show plenty of promise as well.
That’s all nice, but Johnson wants to make it clear — Alabama still has plenty of talent coming back on its roster.
“I think the key part is not the freshmen, the key is our returning players,” Johnson said. “Everybody’s talking about the freshman, and I’m great with that. But it’s Riley Norris and Braxton Key and Avery (Johnson) Jr. and Dazon Ingram and Donta Hall. It’s their responsibility. We can’t forget about those guys. Those are the guys that have the experience. But at the same time, with the way that our freshmen are picking up things, even though it’s still early, they’ll have their opportunity, too.”
The Crimson Tide will return its three top scorers in Key (12 points per game), Ingram (10.6 ppg.) and Riley Norris (9 ppg.). Hall should also be a key factor for Alabama after averaging 6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season. Johnson said the 6-foot-9 forward is improving his offensive game heading into his junior season.
“He started shooting this left-shoulder jump hook in the SEC Tournament. I’ve been trying to get him to shoot that jump hook for two years. He waited until the last couple of games in the season to show it,” Johnson said. “I think part of his deal is having confidence in his body.
“You know, Donta came to us at 192 pounds, now he’s up to about 220-230. So just having that confidence and strength to make moves against guys that are a little bit bigger than him.”
Joining Hall this season will be 6-foot-11 forward Daniel Giddens, who sat out last season after transferring from Ohio State. Giddens saw action in 33 games during his freshman season with the Buckeyes, averaging 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 18.2 minutes per game.
While Johnson continues to place focus on his veteran players, he has been encouraged by the play of his freshmen so far this summer. Alabama’s signing class arrived on campus in late May and has already begun making the transition into the college game.
“They’re young and very energetic,” Johnson said. “They’re all different, it’s amazing to see all their different personalities and the way they recover from practices or weight-training sessions or when we run on the track. Half of them are happy and half aren’t, but it’s been pretty cool to see how they are picking up on things.”
Due to NCAA restrictions, Alabama can only practice together for two hours a week on the court. Although, that was enough time for the freshmen to take on the returning players in a 30-minute scrimmage.
“It was a pretty interesting little match there,” Johnson said. “The competition is good. All of our freshmen can play, and they all have different strengths. They are playing to their strengths while trying to learn and adapt to a new culture here in college life. It’s a renewed type of energy that we have, and it’s interesting how that dynamic is playing out on the court.”
Focused Key has “two feet in”
With such a young team, Johnson said it will be key for some of his veteran players to step into leadership roles next season. One of the players most poised to step into that position is Key, who decided last month to return to the team for his sophomore season.
The 6-foot-8 swingman earned SEC All-Freshman honors last season, averaging 12 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He declared for the NBA Draft in April without an agent and worked out with the Boston Celtics before eventually deciding to return to Tuscaloosa.
However, now that Key is back on campus, Johnson said his star player’s focused has been solely on contributing for next season’s team.
“Two feet in, he’s been focused,” Johnson said. “He’s shown some really good leadership. I think that NBA experience helped. He had a chance to have a workout and play against some really good players, and he’s got better. We need him to lead more this year, he’s not a freshman this year."
Johnson provides update on Mack transfer
Alabama’s incoming signing class won’t be the only new players joining the Tide this summer. Johnson provided an update on Texas transfer Tevin Mack on Tuesday, stating the 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward is set to enroll in school in time for the university’s second summer session which begins on July 5.
Mack averaged 14.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game for Texas last season. He was suspended indefinitely in January for an unspecified violation of team rules and was released by the Longhorns in March after requesting a transfer. Mack was rated as the No. 61 player overall in the 2015 class.
BamaInsider.com - Alabama basketball: Johnson discusses freshmen, Key's return, transfer news
Johnson wasted no time correcting a reporter Tuesday during his annual basketball camp inside Coleman Coliseum. The reporter incorrectly stated that Johnson had said Alabama’s incoming freshmen might start early next season. The head coach was quick to address the error.
“No, I didn’t say start,” Johnson interjected. “Nobody said start, you got to watch your words. First of all, some of them will have an opportunity to play early. Maybe some could mean three or four or two.”
Alabama brings in the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class to Tuscaloosa, its highest-rated haul in program history. Five-star guards Collin Sexton (No. 7 overall) and John Petty (No. 25 overall) headline the class, while four-star forwards Herb Jones (No. 86 overall) and Alex Reese (No. 95 overall) and three-star center Galen Smith show plenty of promise as well.
That’s all nice, but Johnson wants to make it clear — Alabama still has plenty of talent coming back on its roster.
“I think the key part is not the freshmen, the key is our returning players,” Johnson said. “Everybody’s talking about the freshman, and I’m great with that. But it’s Riley Norris and Braxton Key and Avery (Johnson) Jr. and Dazon Ingram and Donta Hall. It’s their responsibility. We can’t forget about those guys. Those are the guys that have the experience. But at the same time, with the way that our freshmen are picking up things, even though it’s still early, they’ll have their opportunity, too.”
The Crimson Tide will return its three top scorers in Key (12 points per game), Ingram (10.6 ppg.) and Riley Norris (9 ppg.). Hall should also be a key factor for Alabama after averaging 6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season. Johnson said the 6-foot-9 forward is improving his offensive game heading into his junior season.
“He started shooting this left-shoulder jump hook in the SEC Tournament. I’ve been trying to get him to shoot that jump hook for two years. He waited until the last couple of games in the season to show it,” Johnson said. “I think part of his deal is having confidence in his body.
“You know, Donta came to us at 192 pounds, now he’s up to about 220-230. So just having that confidence and strength to make moves against guys that are a little bit bigger than him.”
Joining Hall this season will be 6-foot-11 forward Daniel Giddens, who sat out last season after transferring from Ohio State. Giddens saw action in 33 games during his freshman season with the Buckeyes, averaging 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 18.2 minutes per game.
While Johnson continues to place focus on his veteran players, he has been encouraged by the play of his freshmen so far this summer. Alabama’s signing class arrived on campus in late May and has already begun making the transition into the college game.
“They’re young and very energetic,” Johnson said. “They’re all different, it’s amazing to see all their different personalities and the way they recover from practices or weight-training sessions or when we run on the track. Half of them are happy and half aren’t, but it’s been pretty cool to see how they are picking up on things.”
Due to NCAA restrictions, Alabama can only practice together for two hours a week on the court. Although, that was enough time for the freshmen to take on the returning players in a 30-minute scrimmage.
“It was a pretty interesting little match there,” Johnson said. “The competition is good. All of our freshmen can play, and they all have different strengths. They are playing to their strengths while trying to learn and adapt to a new culture here in college life. It’s a renewed type of energy that we have, and it’s interesting how that dynamic is playing out on the court.”
Focused Key has “two feet in”
With such a young team, Johnson said it will be key for some of his veteran players to step into leadership roles next season. One of the players most poised to step into that position is Key, who decided last month to return to the team for his sophomore season.
The 6-foot-8 swingman earned SEC All-Freshman honors last season, averaging 12 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He declared for the NBA Draft in April without an agent and worked out with the Boston Celtics before eventually deciding to return to Tuscaloosa.
However, now that Key is back on campus, Johnson said his star player’s focused has been solely on contributing for next season’s team.
“Two feet in, he’s been focused,” Johnson said. “He’s shown some really good leadership. I think that NBA experience helped. He had a chance to have a workout and play against some really good players, and he’s got better. We need him to lead more this year, he’s not a freshman this year."
Johnson provides update on Mack transfer
Alabama’s incoming signing class won’t be the only new players joining the Tide this summer. Johnson provided an update on Texas transfer Tevin Mack on Tuesday, stating the 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward is set to enroll in school in time for the university’s second summer session which begins on July 5.
Mack averaged 14.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game for Texas last season. He was suspended indefinitely in January for an unspecified violation of team rules and was released by the Longhorns in March after requesting a transfer. Mack was rated as the No. 61 player overall in the 2015 class.
BamaInsider.com - Alabama basketball: Johnson discusses freshmen, Key's return, transfer news
