Devonta Pollard Set to Announce College Decision on Friday

Alabama Crimson Tide five-star basketball target Devonta Pollard is set to make his college decision on Friday at 5 p.m. at his Porterville, Mississippi high school. The 6-foot-7, 190 pound small forward is one of very few uncommitted prospects left in the 2012 basketball recruiting class.

Rivals ranks Pollard as a five-star recruit and the 22nd-best player in the entire class. Scout also rates him as a five-star recruit, and as the 5th best small forward in the class. Pollard was named the Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball for the state of Mississippi thanks to an outstanding senior season at Kemper County. Pollard averaged 23.8 points, 15.7 rebounds, and over five blocks per game last season.

Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer wrote this about Pollard in his scouting report:

“A multidimensional lefty, Pollard has a strong post up game and is a force on the offensive boards. He is also effective in the high post as a scorer and passer and can defend multiple positions.”

Pollard sounds like a perfect fit for Anthony Grant’s system with his defensive ability, and it obviously wouldn’t hurt to add Pollard’s scoring ability to a team that has struggled mightily on the offensive end over the last few seasons. The Crimson Tide lost its top two scorers from last season’s tournament team in JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell. That’s 27.1 points per game combined that has to be replaced.

After bringing in a top-five recruiting class last season, Anthony Grant has yet to make a splash on the recruiting scene this season, but Devonta Pollard’s signature would change all that. With JaMychal Green graduating, Tony Mitchell “leaving the program,” and Charles Hankerson Jr. transferring to Wyoming, Grant has three open scholarships to work with.

The only guaranteed new face we will see on the floor next season is Retin Obasohan, who was redshirted last season.

With a core of Trevor Releford, Trevor Lacey, Andrew Steele, Levi Randolph, and Nick Jacobs among others returning for next season, the Crimson Tide have a talented team returning to Tuscaloosa. The biggest problem is the lack of size, and the addition of Pollard would help in that area. At 6-foot-7, Pollard has the versatility to play the 2, 3 and 4 position. His 190 pound frame obviously needs to add bulk to be depended on as a realistic option defending the four at the next level.

Pollard has four finalists still in contention to earn his signature on a letter of intent; Georgetown, Missouri, and Texas are the other three along with the Crimson Tide. Missouri and Texas already have five guys committed for this class, and both already have a small forward committed.

The main competition for Pollard seems to be Georgetown, which is where Pollard took his final official visit after taking a visit to Tuscaloosa in early April. But, with as quiet as he has been on his recruitment, your guess is as good as mine as to where Pollard decides to play his college ball.

Here’s to hoping Pollard signs with Alabama on Friday evening, and helps the Crimson Tide take the next step in Anthony Grant’s process.

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