Alabama Basketball: Jahvon Quinerly ready to take reins from Kira Lewis

Jahvon Quinerly will be the face of Alabama basketball in 2020.

Alabama basketball is not used to having superstars on the roster, but that has been the case for the past three seasons. Since the Avery Johnson coaching era, the Crimson Tide transitioned from Collin Sexton to Kira Lewis at the point guard position. With Kira Lewis now in the NBA Draft, it is time for Jahvon Quinerly to take over as the star point guard that makes Alabama work.

Quinerly transferred from Villanova after one season, but had to sit out a year due to NCAA rules. In that year, Kira Lewis averaged 37.6 minutes a game as the team’s primary ball handler. With him now preparing to play in the NBA, there will be a major hole in the offense.

That’s where JQ comes into play. Quinerly spent the last season working on his own at his craft, and he now knows the Nate Oats system. He will slide into that primary point guard role.

With minimal depth, Quinerly will likely need to play at least 35 minutes a game. Alabama has added a lot of shooters and wings, but they are limited on who can facilitate the offense. Herb Jones can do it in certain instances, but there is no guarantee that he will succeed if he has to be the backup point guard as well as a starting wing.

Oats would surely love to have another facilitator in case of an injury, but Quinerly will have to be the main man for Alabama basketball. The good news is that he has the talent to do so. His time was limited at Villanova, but he has the potential. The coaching staff saw something in him as a transfer prospect.

Quinerly also has something to prove. He’s waited for two years to get the opportunity that he deserved to have as a true freshman. He will make the most of it, which is a great thing for the Alabama basketball program and Crimson Tide fans.

The transition won’t be seamless, though. Kira Lewis had growing pains in his first year as a starter as Collin Sexton’s replacement. Expect some of the same from JQ. However, his maturity will help him succeed through this tough process.

Jahvon Quinerly has been desperate to get his college career truly started. He’s had to wait at the starting line, running in place. It’s finally time to open the starting gates and let him fly with Alabama basketball.