"Get ready and fasten your seat belts. You are going to
see something you've never seen." Avery Johnson

Johnson keeps Pettway to approval of the 'Bama Nation...
The more you hear about AJ the better it sounds...

Antoine Pettway retained

    The more I read about Avery Johnson the more there is to like. His players like him. His staff likes him. One thing he has just done to bind the Bama past with the future is to keep Antoine Pettway. Pettway may be the most beloved player to suit up at the Capstone.  I can close my eyes and see those ruby red basketball shoes, and watching him sneak backdoor to beat Florida for the SEC Championship. Ernest Shelton hit him with a spectacular pass through traffic to kill the Gators. It remains the only time I can remember when Tide fans rushed the floor. Pettway wore #50. Too big a number for such a small player. Maybe the staff measured his heart when they gave him his number. That pass, #5 to #50, is one of the most cherished memories in my long association with Alabama basketball. You want to see the little man smile?  Walk up to him and ask him if he remembers #5 to #50 and watch him show you those 'pearlie whites.' 

 

Ingram announces the 13th

   I don't want people to think that the retention of Pettway is just about trying to keep Dazon Ingram headed to Tuscaloosa. That may be a reason, but not the only reason. Pettway is a good recruiter, and a good floor coach as well. He was also the coach that cracked the whip with the players when one was needed. Ingram is underrated and his a tremendous upside. The three tide commitments play different positions and have different skills. I think all three are not rated highly enough. I'd say each is a four star players with five star potential. Ingram, in particular will benefit from AJ as the head man. So will the other two. Who knows what additional assistants he will bring to the party. I'd look for at least one coach who can specialize on inside players. Grant got commitments from three different position players. He got a combo guard, a post player, and small forward. That's a good haul for Johnson to start with. I expect him to maybe surprise the Tide fans with one player, although that is merely conjecture on my part. The dead period extends through the April 9th at noon.