Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball

The University of Alabama announced Wednesday it has accepted the resignation of associate athletics director Kobie Baker and opened an internal investigation after the United States Attorney's Office in New York filed federal fraud and corruption charges Tuesday against four assistant college basketball coaches and an Adidas executive.  

"Following yesterday's reports from New York regarding a federal investigation of intercollegiate athletics, The University of Alabama Department of Athletics immediately initiated an internal review of our men's basketball operations," the school said in a statement, per WIAT 42's Chris Breece. "As a result, we have accepted the resignation effective today of Kobie Baker, a men's basketball administrator. Our review has not identified any NCAA or SEC rules violations nor the involvement of any other coach or staff member. We have notified both of the governing bodies of the action we have taken. As always, we will continue to be proactive in our compliance efforts."

According to his profile on Alabama's official website (h/t AL.com), Baker was responsible for "salaries and benefits, operating expenses, team travel, donor relations, fundraising and scheduling non-conference opponents."

He also previously worked as the NCAA's assistant director of enforcement for basketball development, according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg. 

On Tuesday, federal investigators revealed the findings of a three-year inquiry into corruption and bribery across college basketball.

According to ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, USC assistant Tony Bland, Arizona assistant Emanuel Richardson, Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans and Auburn assistant Chuck Person were among those accused of accepting "tens of thousands of dollars to steer NBA-bound players toward sports agents, financial advisers and apparel companies."

The probe also included the Louisville Cardinals, who placed head coach Rick Pitino on unpaid administrative leave Wednesday after a pair of assistants allegedly used their apparel partnership with Adidas to funnel money to recruits, per the New York Times' Marc Tracy. 

The University of Miami also released a statement Wednesday confirming a member of its coaching staff is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office. 

Citing sources on Wednesday, Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde reported Alabama "may be next to have a compliance issue," although the exact violation has not been specified. 

The University of Alabama and head basketball coach Avery Johnson agreed to a two-year contract extension on Friday.

Per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), Alabama's board of trustees' compensation committee approved the two-year extension that will keep Johnson with the program through 2023 and pay him an annual salary of $2.9 million. 

Johnson has been head coach at Alabama since he was hired in April 2015. The 52-year-old has led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back winning records and a 37-30 overall record, though they have lost in the first round of the NIT in each of his first two seasons. 

Alabama hasn't made the NCAA tournament since the 2011-12 season when Anthony Grant was head coach. 

Johnson spent seven seasons as an NBA head coach with the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets from 2004-13. He was named the 2005-06 NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Mavericks to a 60-22 record.

Former Texas Longhorns swingman Tevin Mack has decided to transfer to the Alabama Crimson Tide, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman.

Mack's decision comes a day after he took an official visit to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to meet with head coach Avery Johnson and key members of the program.

A former 4-star recruit, according to Scout.com, Mack shined with the Longhorns before he was suspended in January for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Although he averaged a modest 5.1 points as a freshman, Mack broke out to the tune of 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.5 steals a night on 45.9 percent shooting from the field and 39.5 percent shooting from three prior to his suspension.

Now headed to the Crimson Tide, Mack will be required to sit out the 2017-18 season before he embarks on his junior campaign the following fall.

As for Johnson, Mack's commitment represents another recruiting win for a program that has been riding a hot streak of late.

In addition to snagging one of the most notable transfer prospects on the market, Johnson and the Tide loaded up in advance of next season by landing heralded recruits Collin Sexton, John Petty and Alex Reese to raise the team's profile in the SEC.

In a game that took nearly three hours, Alabama pulled off a 90-86 four-overtime victory against No. 19 South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena on Tuesday night.

Four was enough!

Alabama defeats No. 19 South Carolina, 90-86 in 4OT pic.twitter.com/sstgQRcaB2

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2017

Riley Norris, who finished with 11 points, provided the final four points of the night from the free-throw line to secure the Crimson Tide's victory.

Avery Johnson Jr. led Alabama with 23 points off the bench. Ar'Mond Davis added 19.

It was just enough to get past the Gamecocks, who were fueled by Sindarius Thornwell's monster 44-point, 21-rebound effort.

The Tide led for the majority of regulation after it raced out to a 10-2 advantage. The only time it trailed was when Thornwell scored the first two points of the game from the free-throw line 1:30 into the first half.

But South Carolina had a dreadful first half from the floor, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Sindarius Thornwell is South Carolina's leading scorer at half.

He is 0-of-8 from the field with 5 points. pic.twitter.com/5BnJ0X6MR0

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 8, 2017

Alabama seemingly had the game in the bag, as it led 54-42 with 4:42 remaining. But in that final stretch, South Carolina outscored the Tide 15-3 to force overtime. Thornwell tallied eight of those points, including a jumper with 13 seconds left that tied things up.

It was a surprising turn of events to Athlon Sports and Life's Antwan V. Staley:

Did not expect this Alabama/South Carolina game to be so good. Wow

— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) February 8, 2017

Neither team scored in the final 1:40 of the first overtime, and the game entered a second five-minute extra session knotted at 63.

The Gamecocks came out flying. PJ Dozier nailed a three and added a layup as they took a seven-point lead with 2:18 to go. But Alabama answered with an 8-0 run and held a 74-72 lead after Johnson's three-pointer with 21 seconds on the clock.

Once again, South Carolina turned to Thornwell. He came through, sinking a layup with six seconds left to force a third overtime, much to the shock of AL.com's Justin King:

"Yeah, totally knew Alabama and South Carolina would go into triple overtime." - Nobody ever

— Justin King (@JustinKing) February 8, 2017

The Crimson Tide built two five-point leads in the period, but Dozier hit another three with 1:29 to go, and Thornwell drained a pair of free throws with 23 seconds to play to tie the game at 82.

For NCAA March Madness, the excitement was starting early:

QUADRUPLE OVERTIME!

Sindarius Thornwell with 44 and 17 as No. 19 South Carolina and Alabama are even at 82. pic.twitter.com/AlxlmMRHaL

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 8, 2017

The Gamecocks finally ran out of gas in what proved to be the final three minutes of the game, and Norris made four of four attempts from the charity stripe in the last 56 seconds, much to the dismay of bettors, per Sports Insights:

#UpsetAlert Alabama beats #19 South Carolina 90-86 in QUADRUPLE OT

78% took SC on the spread (-8) and 74% took them on the ML (-355) pic.twitter.com/MRi14TTodb

— Parlay Express (@Parlay_Express) February 8, 2017

Alabama (14-9, 7-4 SEC), which had lost its only two games against ranked opponents this season, stopped a two-game slide. It won't get any easier for the Tide, who host No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday.

South Carolina (19-5, 9-2) had a four-game winning streak snapped and lost for just the second time in 11 games. More importantly, however, the Gamecocks opened the door for the rest of the SEC.

Entering Tuesday, South Carolina had a one-game lead over Kentucky and No. 17 Florida. Now, after the Wildcats held off LSU and the Gators pulled away from Georgia, there's a three-way tie atop the league with less than a month remaining in the regular season.

    

Postgame Reaction

It's not often a four-overtime game comes around. Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said it was a momentous one, via David Caraviello of the Post and Courier:

https://twitter.com/dcaraviello/status/829166303705432065

South Carolina head coach Frank Martin said he'll remember this game for the wrong reasons, beginning with his team's preparation, via Caraviello:

https://twitter.com/dcaraviello/status/829168471053389824

Having been left out of the NCAA tournament last year, he seemed indifferent about the committee this year, via Caraviello:

https://twitter.com/dcaraviello/status/829169352729567233

But for a team that is very much in contention for the SEC, the Gamecocks should have plenty of chances to clinch their place in the Big Dance. 

    

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.

Prized point guard Collin Sexton has committed to play college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide after attracting interest from several high-profile programs.

ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello reported the news Thursday.

According to Borzello, Sexton will be the first 5-star recruit to sign with Alabama since JaMychal Green did so eight years ago.

Sexton is the ninth-ranked recruit in the 2017 class, according to Scout.com. He also checks in as the second-ranked point guard in the nation and the top point guard from Georgia in the class.

The Pebblebrook High School standout enjoyed a meteoric rise up the rankings over the summer. As a result, he moved into the conversation as one of the best players in the class. It's hard to argue after he started to scratch the surface of his immense potential.

Sexton possesses an explosive skill set. He relentlessly attacks opposing defenses, using his size (6'2") and quickness to create matchup problems for opposing point guards. He's also showcased the ability to finish consistently around the rim:

5-star PG Collin Sexton is athletic and a proven scorer heading to the next level pic.twitter.com/QCFWolteXX

— Bleacher Report CBB (@br_CBB) September 15, 2016

His biggest area for improvement is becoming more comfortable running an offense. He can sometimes get caught up in the pace of the game and place too much of a burden on his own shoulders. He gets himself into trouble rather than relying on his teammate to make plays.

Those issues should fade as he gains experience at the next level and the game starts slowing down. He's made a lot of progress in a short period of time. There's no reason to believe that won't continue once he gets comfortable playing against college competition.

Jason Jordan of USA Today provided comments from the highly touted prospect in May about attributing his discipline to his parents.

"Yeah, if I forget to do the dishes or take the trash out or something like that, you better believe I'm gonna get woken up at 3 a.m. to do it," Sexton said. "They don't play with that, but as I'm getting older I do see how that kind of discipline helps me in other ways. I just don't have the distractions other players have."

Landing Sexton is a massive recruiting victory for Alabama. The Crimson Tide are well-known for their football success under head coach Nick Saban, but the basketball program has lagged behind.

The talented point guard will help the basketball program, though. His choice should also lead to immediate playing time, which should include an extensive role from the opening tipoff of his freshman campaign.

Ultimately, Sexton is one of the most intriguing players in the 2017 class. He hasn't been in the national recruiting spotlight as long as some of his fellow top prospects. But he's proved to be worth the attention since his breakout summer.

                                                       

Alabama forward Michael Kessens announced Wednesday that he will transfer from the school after he averaged 3.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game coming off the bench during the 2015-16 season.

He shared the news via Twitter: 

After a great 3 years at the University of Alabama, we've decided that it is best for me to transfer and pursue my grad education elsewhere

— Michael Kessens (@MikeDoubleK) March 30, 2016

According to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Kessens will graduate from Alabama this spring before transferring. He has one year of eligibility left and can play immediately next season. 

He is the second member of the Crimson Tide to announce that he will transfer on Wednesday after starting point guard Justin Coleman revealed his plans to leave the school, per Michael Casagrande of AL.com. 

Alabama head coach Avery Johnson told Casagrande, though, that Kessens could explore playing professionally in Europe along with staying at the collegiate level. 

"I loved his energy he gave us throughout the season, and he was a joy to coach," Johnson said. "We certainly wish him the best in whatever career path he chooses."

The Switzerland native began his college career at Longwood University of the Big South Conference and averaged 13.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his freshman year.

After transferring to Alabama and sitting out the 2013-14 season, Kessens averaged 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game in 2014-15. 

His time on the court dropped by almost five minutes this season as he came in relief for Jimmie Taylor and Shannon Hale. The Crimson Tide limped to an 18-15 season and lost in the first round of the NIT to Creighton. 

Hale and Taylor will be seniors next season, so Alabama's frontcourt won't take too hard of a hit. But the Tide will have to focus on finding depth at the position this offseason now that Kessens is leaving.

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.

Guard Justin Coleman made significant strides for Alabama in his sophomore season in 2015-16, but the Crimson Tide will not get the opportunity to see what he can do as an upperclassman.

Coleman took to Twitter on Wednesday and said, “First off I wanna thank God, the University of Alabama, fans and coaches. But Coach [Avery] Johnson and I have decided it was best to transfer.”

Coleman arrived on campus with high expectations as a 4-star recruit, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, although he didn’t put up huge numbers in his freshman season as he grew accustomed to the college game. However, he showed marked statistical improvement as a sophomore and appeared in all 33 of Alabama's contests:

Season	Minutes	Points	Assists	Rebounds	Field-Goal Percentage	Three-Point Percentage
2014-15	18.1	4.3	1.4	1.1	25.9	23.9
2015-16	26.2	7.8	3.3	2	30	27.2

Coleman was fourth on the team in points per game behind Retin Obasohan, Shannon Hale and Arthur Edwards. He also turned in a handful of notable performances, including his outing against Elite Eight-bound Oregon on Dec. 21, when he scored 24 points and dished out six assists in a narrow four-point loss. He tallied 21 points and five assists during a Feb. 17 victory over Ben Simmons and SEC rival LSU as well.

Coleman's size at 5’10” limited his ability to drill outside shots over defenders (hence, the low three-point percentage numbers), but he is an impressive ball-handler and distributor. He led Alabama in total assists last season with 110 and will likely look to slide into a point guard role wherever he transfers. 

As for Alabama, Charlie Potter of 247Sports said the Crimson Tide will turn to Dazon Ingram and Avery Johnson Jr. to play point guard in 2016-17. Johnson Jr. sat out the 2015-16 campaign after transferring from Texas A&M, and Ingram only played seven games because of injury.

Still, Alex Byington of the Times Daily said "it's expected" that Ingram will be the starter at point guard next season, which likely contributed to Coleman's decision to transfer out. 

Ingram may have only played seven games in 2015-16, but he is a matchup problem for opposing defenses at 6’5” with a high ceiling. He averaged 7.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists a night in limited action as a freshman and will look to lead the Crimson Tide to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

Terrance Ferguson, a 5-star swingman from Advanced Preparatory International in Dallas, decommitted from Alabama on Tuesday, according to Evan Daniels of Scout.com.  

"He's opening back up his recruitment just based off of him losing his grandmother a month ago," Ferguson's head coach, Ray Forsett, told Daniels. "He wants to make the right decision. He's very much still interested in going to Alabama, but he wants to pray about it and make sure he's making the right decision."

His mother confirmed that report, per Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com.

Ferguson is one of the most exciting prospects in the Class of 2016. He's considered the No. 2 player from the state of Texas, the No. 2 shooting guard and the No. 15 prospect overall in the country, per 247Sports. He was also named a McDonald's All-American.

Losing him would be an enormous blow for Alabama. Ferguson is one of the top shooters in the entire class and was expected to pair with 4-star small forward Braxton Key to highlight an excellent first recruiting class for head coach Avery Johnson.

While the class would still be strong without Ferguson, he was considered the crown jewel of the incoming freshmen in 2016. A number of schools will now be hot on his trail.

Recruit star ratings and information via 247Sports unless otherwise noted. 

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter. 

Avery Johnson has yet to coach a game for the Alabama Crimson Tide, but he is already leaving his mark on the program. On Wednesday, Johnson secured the commitment of 4-star small forward Braxton Key, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

"Coach Avery Johnson was an NBA coach, he knows what it takes to get to next level," Key said, per Paul Biancardi of ESPN. "I was very comfortable with assistant Bob Simon who recruited me since the ninth grade. I wanted to do something to be different."

Key is the No. 13 small forward in the 2016 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also ranked 68th overall and second in the state of Virginia.

Borzello noted how big this news is for Johnson and Alabama:

Braxton Key is the second ESPN 100 commitment for Avery Johnson in 2016. Pushes the Crimson Tide into the top 10 classes nationally.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 21, 2015

Avery Johnson needed to make up ground for both Terrance Ferguson and Braxton Key - was able to get commitments from both. Impressive start.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 21, 2015

The other top recruit headed to Tuscaloosa next year is 5-star shooting guard Terrance Ferguson. Ferguson is the second-best player at his position in the country in 247Sports' composite rankings. Jerry Meyer of 247Sports believes the combination of Ferguson and Key will work out for the Tide on the wing:

Terrance Ferguson & Braxton Key do have different strengths. https://t.co/r5BcReBSIu

— Jerry Meyer (@jerrymeyer247) October 21, 2015

In the Biancardi interview, Key added he now hopes to help lure Marques Bolden—the No. 1 center in the country—to Alabama next.

While not a great shooter, Key is a dynamic playmaker who can slash to the basket to set up his own shot or pass off to a teammate. If he can develop a consistent jumper from long range, he'll be incredibly difficult to guard.

The Oak Hill Academy star will also give the Tide immediate help defensively since he can match up with shooting guards and power forwards, in addition to his natural position on the wing.

Success on the recruiting trail doesn't equate to automatic success on the court, but Johnson is well on his way to building a great squad to compete in the SEC after adding Key to the ranks.

Note: Star rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.

Shooting guard Terrance Ferguson has all of the makings of being a big-time scorer at the college level. Alabama has the fortune of welcoming the 5-star prospect to campus after he committed to play for the Crimson Tide on Monday, per his Twitter account:

I am proud to announce that I will be furthering my education and basketball career at The University of Alabama  #RollTide #BuckleUp

— T-FERG (@the2kferguson) August 17, 2015

The composite rankings at 247Sports rate Ferguson as the second-best shooting guard in the class of 2016 and the No. 11 overall recruit.  

Ferguson is listed at just 180 pounds and stands at 6'7", so the Dallas native obviously has room to fill out his frame. That should come in time when he hits the weight room in college, which will help him improve the areas of his game he needs to work on, such as rebounding.

But even with his slender figure, Ferguson can finish well above the rim with authority. Although his ball-handling skills need some work, he can jump through the ceiling and has tremendous body control to light up a highlight reel.

What really makes Ferguson special to complement his aerial acrobatics is his shooting ability, though. He can fill it up as well as anyone in this class from beyond the arc, and his range extends well beyond even the NBA three-point line.

If he can add even 10 or 15 pounds, the length he already has will make him an even more dynamic force for defenders to deal with. It will also help him evolve and develop a more complete offensive arsenal while further bothering his rivals on the defensive end.

Alabama can feel confident Ferguson will be prepared to contribute at the very least as a serious weapon off of the bench who can provide instant offense. The true freshman should have no problem seeing the floor given his explosive scoring ability.

The reduced shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds plays into Ferguson's hands as well. It should help his adjustment to the NCAA level, because he is especially dangerous in the open court, where he can gain a head of steam and either pull up from anywhere and drain jumpers or thrill spectators with a thunderous jam.