Tide Men's Basketball Signs Three to Letters of Intent
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA - Three high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to attend the University of Alabama and play basketball for the Crimson Tide.
Among those signing to play for the No. 8 ranked Crimson Tide are 6-foot-10, 215 pound center Shawn Taylor; 6-foot-8, 200 pound forward Akini Adkins and 6-foot-10, 200 pound forward Jemareo Davidson.
"I'm obviously excited about all three of them collectively first," said Alabama head men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried. "I think they address some needs that we have as far as size and interior players. Akini in particular is a player who I think is going to get better and better. He's very eager to learn. He's really athletic and I like his skills. I think he's got a chance to play quickly."
Adkins is from Tallahassee, Fla. He's a senior at Tallahassee's Leon High School where he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds as a junior last season.
Taylor has transferred to Perry High School for his senior season but averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks at Dooly County High School near Vidallia, Ga.
"Shawn is a guy who I think has a great future," said Gottfried. "He's another player who is anxious to get better. He seems to be extremely hungry to improve. He has the unique ability to block shots as well as anybody I've seen here recently. He's very quick, jumps quick. He's very athletic. So I think his future is bright as well.
Davidson averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds at Stone Mountain, Ga., High School as a junior last season. He's now at Wheeler High School in Atlanta.
"Jemareo is a very talented young person who we think has the potential to be very good. He's very versatile. Very skilled. And I think he can really be an exceptional inside player because of how skilled he is at his size. He's a very good ball handler, passer, and shooter, so I think he brings a lot in."
Gottfried says all three players are expected to qualify academically.
