Alabama Basketball: Good news abounds from Avery Johnson
By Ronald Evans
Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson is a positive person. Alabama fans are filled with optimism as Avery shares more good news.
Optimism over Alabama basketball is soaring, Fans are thinking about a long run deep into the Big Dance.
There is ample reason for enthusiasm a couple of months before the August exhibition games in Canada. The young team is loaded with talent as we profiled a few months ago, in next season’s new players.
During the recent SEC basketball teleconference, Avery updated the progress of the team. The biggest news from Avery was about the Tide biggest player, Daniel Giddins. Without Jimmie Taylor and Bola Olaniyan inside, the Tide needs some bulk and muscle inside. Giddens is 6-11 and is reported to have gained 25 pounds of good weight, getting him to 248 pounds.
"“He’s expanded his game a little bit,” Johnson said. “Obviously, we need him to do a lot of what Bola did for us last year in terms of rebounding the basketball on both ends of the floor. We feel he’ll be a better offensive player inside and be able to finish inside a little bit more … also, get him to take his game out to 14-15 feet and playing off the bounce a little bit … because he’s a big guy that can pass the ball.”"
Avery also reported Donta Hall has added weight and is now at 225 pounds. With all the excitement about the incoming freshmen, Johnson is working to focus attention on the returning players. Reported by Bama Online, Johnson said,
"“I think the key part is not the freshmen; the key is our returning players. Everybody is talking about the freshmen and I’m great with that, but it’s Riley Norris and Braxton Key and Dazon Ingram and Donta Hall. It’s their responsibility … They have the experience."
Asked about super freshman, Collin Sexton and his ability to lead the team, Avery complimented on Sexton’s focus, “There hasn’t been any trash talking, I’ve seen him just play focused basketball.”
Virtually every NBA Draft expert forecasts Sexton as a one-and-done player. The Tide has not had one of those since Gerald Wallace in 2001. One recent 2018 Mock Draft, cbssports.com has Sexton going at No. 9 in the 2018 draft.
The Big Blue Nation will not care for that Mock Draft. Sexton is projected to be drafted higher than any Kentucky players.
In case you have somehow missed the dozens of highlight videos of Collin Sexton, click below.
We don’t know about all Alabama basketball fans but we’re not sure our buckle is tight enough for next season.
Next: Ten Tide Football Records that will Never be Broken
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