Algie Key brings some aggressive play to Bama...

Key brings some real intangibles to the Tide...

      I have to admit that a junior college player who shot around 15% from behind the three-point line wasn't real high on my wish list. After watching several videos of Key, I understood what Grant saw. You may or may not remember Amp Murry who helped launch 'Bama to national prominence under CM Newton.  For the younger Tide fans here is a quick summary of Murray. He was a terrible shooter and one of the greatest guards I've ever seen. He would steal your jock strap and you'd have no idea it happened until you felt the draft. He could wreck a press, or create his own one man press. The best thing an offensive player could do when being guarded by Amp was to pass the ball quickly, and then go stand in the corner like a scolded child.

  

  Key brings a lot of those same skills to Bama. He is probably a better scorer than Murray. He may not be quite the defender as Amp, but the similarities are striking. If Algie could bring half of what the greatest point guard in Alabama history brought, then he is going to be a great player. Time will tell but I'll go on record to say this - this same reckless play and hard nose attitude are there. We'll have to wait and see. Key is twice the defensive player that Lacey was in the press. All he needs is some time to adapt to 'Bama's system. When that happens we will have one dynamic ball player. He could be the type player that opposing players think "oh no, not Key." One of advantages of seeing over a thousand Bama games is that it gives you some real perspective, and a little insight in comparing players over the decades of time. Let's be clear - Key is not going to be the reincarnation of Murray. He doesn't have to be. Close will be good enough if he can bring the same things to the floor, and I believe he will be able to do so. Key averaged almost 18 points a game and 7 assists an outing last year at Barton CC. He shot 15% from the floor, and considering he shot just under 15% from the arc. Quick, fast, aggressive, and he finds a way to score. He is an Anthony Grant player. I'd give him 4 stars...