Kessens brings much needed inside play and Bama gets a new player...

Kessens Picks the Tide to finish his career…

 

Kessons grabs rebound against Creighton

    Anthony Grant rang the bell when he convinced Michael Kessens of Longwood University via Switzerland to transfer to ‘Bama.  Kessons was 6-9 when he transferred to Alabama. He may be even taller today. This young man is going to be one heck of a player for the Crimson and White. He averaged a double-double at Longwood where he was a marked man by opposing defenses. Kudos for Longwood coaches for recognizing he needed to find a “better” program to showcase his skills and to hopefully take the next step to the professional ranks.  It was the Longwood coaches who first brought Alabama to his attention. It was Grant and the SEC that sealed the deal for the Tide. By the way he had 17 and 11 against Arkansas.

     The first thing you notice about Kessens is his great foot work, and ability to get his hips around defenders. This speaks to his inherit ability as an athlete, and a back ground as a soccer player. So where will he fit in on the team?  It depends on a couple of factors. How much will he grow, and how strong can he become with a solid weight lifting program? He is a power forward right now, but it is possible he can be a post player. My personal belief is he will remain a power forward because he can run the floor as well as mix it up on the inside. In watching some video it is clear he can finish off plays around the basket. He is very mobile. That mobility will help him in the SEC both on the open floor and around the basket. I have no doubt he’d be a starter this season if he was eligible. He would also have proven capable of playing up to Grant's defensive expectations. He’s that good. I’d rate him as a HHHH star player. Contrary to popular thought – four star players don’t just fall off trees. A real four star player is a valuable commodity. Alabama found such a player in Michael Kessons. Maybe it would be fair to say that Kessens found Alabama.
 

Bama gets their first 2015 commitment… 

 

     J.J. Jackson has some ties with Alabama. The Montgomery George Washington Carver coach played for Wimp Sanderson at Alabama. He was much admired and was a crowd favorite. When one of his star players, Brandon Austin, announced he was going Crimson in 2015 it marked JJ’s first player to say he’s Bama bound. He is 6-5 and can jump out of the gym. Rocket man so to speak. Jackson was happy he chose Bama but heretofore the coach has seen four of his players head west to Mississippi State.
 

    A lot will be made from the fact that Austin was the sixth man for the talented Carver team. That was last season. In the future that will be different. Jackson asked Austin to come off the bench to allow his seniors to start.  They were all talented but so is Austin. We’ll have more from him next week. I’ve arranged an interview with him if all goes as plans. This kid has long arms and a reach of a seven foot player. He and Levi should get along well with their matching dreadlocks.  Austin is a perfect fit for Grant’s defensive scheme and his ability to get to the rim. He’s not ranked a three star player, for now. Look for that fourth star at season’s end.

Pros:  great jumper, great body control, fierce rebounder and competitor, good scorer
Cons: Needs some work with ball handling, needs some work on defensive intensity.

Upside:  good person, good student, better than advertised, level headed, good court
            court sense, could swing between two and small forward if needed...

Later this week:  Algie Key...

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