What is the state of Bama's basketball recruiting?

[aMAZEnFan]

I really believe that advertising/publicity for our games needs to be turned up a good bit in order for fans to come out in larger numbers. The buzz was built when Coach Grant was hired and then it kind of faded. There was no reason why CC wasn't packed for the Crimson & White game (free) and the first game against Cornell-for that matter.

Obviously, fans want to see a good product on the court when they pay their hard-earned money. I agree with the poster above who stated that this year's team was worth the watch, because of their determination to keep fighting even when they were outmatched from a talent standpoint.

Our fanbase as a whole has a tendency of cheering when things go right and sitting on our hands when things get dicey. The great programs like Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky all have fans that will lift their team out of any slump and that is why they usually pull off wins in games that they may have trailed most of the time.

Just a few observations.

 

[IMALOYAL1]

Most of our big time players have struggled to make it to/in the NBA, I wouldn't be shocked if that's scared away a few recruits.

At the end of Wimp's career this was not the case. We had numerous players on NBA rosters. If Coach Grant could just get the quality of players Wimp got it would be a great improvement.

 

[CajunCrimson]

At the end of Wimp's career this was not the case. We had numerous players on NBA rosters. If Coach Grant could just get the quality of players Wimp got it would be a great improvement.

It's a Different NBA now than it was back then. NBA is filled with HS players, one and done players and european players now...........the days when Wimp was there, there were still 7 rounds in the draft, and only Moses Malone went straight from HS to the pros.......

Different world now......

 

[aMAZEnFan]

We have had a couple of good players in the last few years that were NBA-caliber players. However, they were not developed properly on the collegiate level and that led to them having to go the long path to the NBA. Alonzo Gee is a perfect example of someone who could have been a high NBA draft pick. The good news about Gee is that he is getting his second chance. Hendrix, Winston, Grizzard, Davis and others are having a more difficult time.

 

[BamaMTA06]

We have had a couple of good players in the last few years that were NBA-caliber players. However, they were not developed properly on the collegiate level and that led to them having to go the long path to the NBA. Alonzo Gee is a perfect example of someone who could have been a high NBA draft pick. The good news about Gee is that he is getting his second chance. Hendrix, Winston, Grizzard, Davis and others are having a more difficult time.

Mo Williams has done pretty well for himself, but I don't know if that's due to his hard work once he got to the NBA or his development at Bama. I do remember he and his dad being blasted when he left early.

 

[GrandBayTider]

Gerald Wallace is also having a good career in the NBA along with Mo. But they are about the only two still playing at a high level in the NBA. McDyess is definitely on the downside of his career, unfortunately so the ranks of Alabama players in the NBA are getting thin.

 

[PHX_TIDE]

Will Bama be in the NCAA tournament two years from now?

I say yes.

 

[gamersfuel]

its not hard to understand why a player chooses to spurn bama basketball right now. top flight recruits want to play for someone who can develop them into a top pro prospect as well as go far in the tourney. When we can show that we can develop talent and get some exposure nationally due to beating good teams these recruits will stay at home and play for Bama. Bama used to have a very good showing in the stands during the SEC tourney. Aside from Kentucky, i'd say Bama had the 2nd best showing during the early and mid 90's so it's not like we cant have that type of support again.

 

[Bogie]

It's a Different NBA now than it was back then. NBA is filled with HS players, one and done players and european players now...........the days when Wimp was there, there were still 7 rounds in the draft, and only Moses Malone went straight from HS to the pros.......

Different world now......

There were others that went pro early or out of HS - Willoughby, Darryl Dawkins, etc, and there were some Euros on rosters, but you have some pointy.

The two round draft with the foreign influx is making it more and more difficult nfor American players to make themselves into NBA players if they do not posesss star type qualities entering college.

What is especially ironic is that many of the Euros are becoming valued due to their mastery of the fundamentals, as the Americans become enamored with fancy ball-handling and high-flying "Ohh" creator type moves - leaving the fundamentals as an afterthought.

 

[RedStar]

At the end of Wimp's career this was not the case. We had numerous players on NBA rosters. If Coach Grant could just get the quality of players Wimp got it would be a great improvement.

You've got to put yourself in the shoes of a High School Sr. 17 year old kids don't know who played for Alabama in the early 90's or how successful they were in the NBA.

I was referring to our recent recruits. We've had 2 legitimate NBA players in the last decade, that's a pretty poor number considering how many high profile recruits we've had. Gottfried's worst trait was developing talent.

 

[aMAZEnFan]

More Recruiting News

Here's the latest encouraging news on both Cothron & Ratliffe:

On Cothron:

Schools in the mix: Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Originally from Alabama, Cothron now has the Tide and Kentucky at the top of his list after decommitting from North Carolina State. Cothron has all his official visits available to him and will likely visit Alabama and Kentucky first. The general feeling is that Alabama is the team to beat for Cothron now that he has opened up his recruitment.

On Ratliffe:

Schools in the mix: Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Missouri, and Cincinnati.

At this point, all 5 of the schools are even. He liked what he saw at Alabama and Arkansas but he will not name a favortite and/or make a decision until all the visits are done. He also wants to talk to his mother to make sure he makes the best decision.

He is impressed with BAMA because of his relationship with Coach Grant, which goes all the way back to when Coach Grant was at VCU. He commented on how well Coach Grant runs his programs with the upmost dignity. Ratliffe also thinks highly of the assistants.

The fact that Bama is not known for their basketball program is not a concern for Ricardo in the least bit, but playing time is a huge factor. He is definitely looking to come in and contribute early and often.

The style of play is fitting at Bama to what he prefers.


I am now more than confident that we land one of these guys if not both! If Ratliffe and Cothron are sold on the ideal of being a dynamic duo that we need to drastically improve our roster, good times are fastly approaching our men's basketball program.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Excellent.

 

[yesitsmed23]

Re: More Recruiting News

Here's the latest encouraging news on both Cothron & Ratliffe:

On Cothron:

Schools in the mix: Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Originally from Alabama, Cothron now has the Tide and Kentucky at the top of his list after decommitting from North Carolina State. Cothron has all his official visits available to him and will likely visit Alabama and Kentucky first. The general feeling is that Alabama is the team to beat for Cothron now that he has opened up his recruitment.

On Ratliffe:

Schools in the mix: Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Missouri, and Cincinnati.

At this point, all 5 of the schools are even. He liked what he saw at Alabama and Arkansas but he will not name a favortite and/or make a decision until all the visits are done. He also wants to talk to his mother to make sure he makes the best decision.

He is impressed with BAMA because of his relationship with Coach Grant, which goes all the way back to when Coach Grant was at VCU. He commented on how well Coach Grant runs his programs with the upmost dignity. Ratliffe also thinks highly of the assistants.

The fact that Bama is not known for their basketball program is not a concern for Ricardo in the least bit, but playing time is a huge factor. He is definitely looking to come in and contribute early and often.

The style of play is fitting at Bama to what he prefers.


I am now more than confident that we land one of these guys if not both! If Ratliffe and Cothron are sold on the ideal of being a dynamic duo that we need to drastically improve our roster, good times are fastly approaching our men's basketball program.

thats awesome to hear! i hope we get these two kids along with Josh Langford, that would help our depth out for next season.

 

[TiderinArkansas]

I kind of doubt we take Langford if we get Cothron and Ratliffe but that's just speculation.

Either way Releford, Hankerson, Cothron, and Ratliffe would be a big time class. Can't stress enough how big Ratliffe could be for us from day one of next year.

 

[aMAZEnFan]

TiderinArkansas is right. I don't believe that Josh Langford even has a committable offer to this point. We only have 2 more scholarships available, so we would have to get Cothron or Ratliffe and not get Majok Majok before we would take Josh Langford.

Getting both Cothron and Ratliffe would immediately improve our wins by 6-7.

 

[RTR91]

Glad to see what you guys are reporting. Is there any word about any of the football players that were reportedly considering playing both sports? I know Brian Vogler was one. I think one other as well.

 

[aMAZEnFan]

Glad to see what you guys are reporting. Is there any word about any of the football players that were reportedly considering playing both sports? I know Brian Vogler was one. I think one other as well.

I thought I remembered Nico Johnson before Volger, but that may have been just talk. I do know that Adrian Hubbard is a great basketball talent as well. Michael Williams wasn't bad either.

I don't believe it would work out because of the time frame and the demands of both sports.

 

[aMAZEnFan]

The latest on recruiting:

Cothron grew up a Bama fan and had this to say about the Crimson Tide:

"A lot of people talk about how the fans at Alabama don't get excited about basketball but that's just not true. They are just like any fanbase, they love a winner. If you give them a great team they can get excited about and be proud of, they will come out. They have already done it in the past."

He hit the nail right on the head, if you ask me. Great to see young men have an idea about how things are even before he comes to school here. RTR!

 

[RTR91]

The latest on recruiting:

Cothron grew up a Bama fan and had this to say about the Crimson Tide:

"A lot of people talk about how the fans at Alabama don't get excited about basketball but that's just not true. They are just like any fanbase, they love a winner. If you give them a great team they can get excited about and be proud of, they will come out. They have already done it in the past."

He hit the nail right on the head, if you ask me. Great to see young men have an idea about how things are even before he comes to school here. RTR!

With that, I say he comes to Bama. Let's hope so.

 

[RTR91]

Looks like Cothron is close to being Bama bound.
Tide closing in on coveted hoops recruit Luke Cothron | al.com