Overall, it was a great evening for the University of Alabama basketball program.
Despite some late astroturfing and poor-mouthing, those post-Combine projections on Josh Primo being a late-lottery pick were spot-on. With the 12th selection of the 2021 NBA Draft, Coach Pop made the hyperkinetic 18-year-old a San Antonio Spur.
Primo’s college production won’t wow anyone: About 9 PPG, but he is very active on defense, can handle the ball, shoots almost 40% from the perimeter, and is a natural three-and-D player off the bench as his playmaking progresses. The Spurs needed to get more athletic, bring in playmakers, and get younger: the youngest player in the Draft does just that.
Primo was also the first SEC player taken. /Kermit sip tea.
And, of course, Woj scooped everyone just an hour into the draft, saying that his #sauces indicated Primo was going to the Spurs. That guy has uncanny insider knowledge.
If you’re keeping track at home, that now makes it three Alabama players selected as lottery picks in the last four years, including recording a program-first: back-to-back lottery picks. All three players, by the way, have been ball-handling guards who can create their own shots: Collin Sexton, Kira Lewis Jr., and now Josh Primo. #PGU
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As the early second round came into focus, the player most expected to go mid- to late-round was scooped uo off the board in something of a surprise. Just five picks into the Second Round, New Orleans made reigning SEC PotY Herbert Jones a Pelican with the 35th overall selection, reuniting him with former ‘Bama teammate, Kira Lewis.
Pels GM and former Duke star Trajan Langdon couldn’t stop raving about the selection, and importantly why they went after Herb — in short, for the same reasons that made him an Alabama legend. Productive scorer, frenetic defender, high energy on and off the ball, and outstanding basketball IQ.
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Things were not quite so rosy for John Petty, who went undrafted. But, he can take some solace in the fact that it was a bad year overall to be an off-ball shooter. At the end of the Draft, there were still a dozen or more quality scorers sitting by the phone. There was some doubt late in the second whether Sharife Cooper would even be drafted. While he did finally get picked up, SEC standouts Brandon Boston and Trendon Watford (hehehe), are also going to be signing UDFA contracts.
In fact, this could be the deepest year in a very long time for UDFA NBA signings. As of this writing, FA contracts were being signed by the flurry, but I did not see one yet for Petty. Though that is just a matter of time.
Chin up there, JP. You’ll get your shot.
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Next man up for point guard U, and best of luck to our latest ‘Bama pros.
Roll Tide.
Comments
Primo's my cousin!
By PiperTJ on 07.30.21 6:05am
Family reunion is going to be lit this year!
By CarrotTop4 on 07.30.21 9:02am
Si!
Familia!
By PiperTJ on 07.30.21 1:54pm
There isn't much doubt
Next year will be back to back to back with JD.
By Ma Deuce on 07.30.21 7:56am
This could be a trend of talent for several years….
Coach Oates seems to a phenomenal recruiter. Just hope all this talent will equal a Championship.
By jtcrimson on 07.30.21 8:16am
When the Tide wins
National Championships in Football, Basketball and Softball this coming season, the rest of the country’s heads are going to explode.
By WIIStL on 07.30.21 8:45am
if softball wins another chip under The Gut, I'll eat my hat
By Ma Deuce on 07.30.21 9:40am
50 said the same thing,
but we got no pictures from him. We want pictures and video this time, dammit! Don’t worry, you likely aren’t going to have to do that.
By CrimsonRon on 07.30.21 9:52am
I'd advise keeping 50 far away from any of your articles of clothing.
Especially if you plan on eating them.
By CarrotTop4 on 07.30.21 10:00am
Especially if it’s a yellowish color…
#Had2P
By jtcrimson on 07.30.21 10:14am
Well, they already won the SEC regular season and tournament championship this past year.
Hopefully at least a Final Four to come.
By CarrotTop4 on 07.30.21 9:05am
This is make happy But now i am Working 4 hour Dailly and make 40 dollar Easily .. This is enough for me to happy my family..how ?? i am making this so u can do it Easily… https://www.smartpay1.com
By HeatherQuinn on 08.07.21 5:28pm
A matter of when not if imho
By George111480 on 07.30.21 10:39am
Although it is very difficult to win an NCAA basketball championship, where even the most talented teams sometimes fall early in the tournament year in and year out. If there had been a few more bounces go our way and maybe a few more free throws made we could’ve made the final four this year with a chance at a title run.
By George111480 on 07.30.21 10:45am
Congrats to Josh & Herb...
…and LOL Watford…
By NiceLittleSaturday on 07.30.21 11:28am
Happy for the guys, but the biggest winner might be Coach Oats
Let’s be hones Sexton and Kyra were top 15 draft picks when they walked in the door. Primo developed a year early and no one thought herb was going to be drafted when he came out of high school (or even 2 years ago). Not only did they both develop above their projection out of high school, they beat their draft projections for a couple of days ago. IMHO, this means coaches and GMs thought they knew their stuff, played hard, and would be positives in the locker room. That is all on Coach Oats. I am so happy here is in Tuscaloosa.
what Shariffe Cooper should have been told, and what all other kids should be told: If you are under 6’4 you better have all of the following if you want to get drafted in the first round.
By uatide4ever on 07.30.21 12:02pm
Sorry, but I don't know...
…you well enough for us to be hones.
Good points on Cooper, though.
Now do Watford…
By NiceLittleSaturday on 07.30.21 12:52pm
Well if you were each doing it, you'd be co-hones.
Which is just nuts.
By CarrotTop4 on 07.30.21 2:30pm
Ugh Typos...
Watford, was partially a victim of an extremely athletic class coming out this year. So being a certain size and strength wasn’t enough to guarantee that someone get picked (It would many years).
When scouts drilled down Watford this is what I think they saw:
1. great size and strength for a wing.
2. does a little of everything, but doesn’t do anything exceptionally well.
2. good offensively at the rim, not good midrange or distance,
3. has a surprisingly slow/deliberate drive for a wing player.
3. problems with consistent effort
4. won’t be able to take the same shots at the next level he took in college.
5. possible cheating issues. NBA scouts, and managers want nothing to do with a guy that cheats when choosing a late 1st or second round guy.
The good thing for Watford, is everything on this list is correctible. If he gets people of out his ear, puts his head down and works we will see him in the league soon.
By uatide4ever on 07.30.21 2:55pm
...
By NiceLittleSaturday on 07.30.21 8:25pm
John Petty and Alex Reese update:
By CB969 on 07.30.21 12:29pm
Happy for both of them.
By CarrotTop4 on 07.30.21 12:32pm
MUST HAVE HUBNER BLUE SHARKS GEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://bluesharksbasket.hu/news/
By PiperTJ on 07.30.21 12:53pm
Nice...
…write-up on Reese (I think).
And, um, I can’t find a link for gear at that site…can you?
By NiceLittleSaturday on 07.30.21 12:57pm
No, but something just as good
By PiperTJ on 07.30.21 9:49pm