Ronald Steele

COLLEGIATE HIGHLIGHTS:

2006-2007 (Junior):

AP Preseason All-America
Playboy Preseason All-America
2nd Team NABC All-District 6
SEC Good Works Team
Bob Cousy Award Finalist
Naismith Candidate
John Wooden Candidate
Had arthroscopic surgery on both knees to repair small cartilage defects on April 3, 2007 and a clean-up procedure on the left knee on August 23, 2007
Had started in 70 consecutive games--every UA game since his freshman year-- before missing his first start (knee) when UA played Texas Southern on November 25, 2006
The 2007 SEC tournament game vs. Kentucky marked the first (and only) career game Steele played in but didn’t start for Alabama
Played in 26 of Alabama’s 32 games, missing seven because of injuries (sprained left ankle in Notre Dame game, too), starting in 25 of those games
Averaged 8.6 points
Shot .875% (35-40) from the free throw line
Averaged 4.0 assists
Scored 20 or more points in nine career games going into 2007-08 season

2005-2006 (Sophomore):

AP All-American, Honorable Mention 2006
2006 Coaches All-SEC, 1st team
2006 AP All-SEC
NABC and USBWA All-District
Academic All-SEC (2nd time)
Finished 9th in the SEC in scoring in all games, sharing UA team lead with Jermareo Davidson at 14.3 ppg
Finished 8th in the SEC in league games in scoring with 15.9 ppg
Scored 20 or more points in six  SEC games in 2005-06
SEC stats champion in free throw  percentages (.914% in league games and .892% in all games)
Finished 12th in the NCAA in free throw percentages
SEC stats champion in minutes played (40.3 per SEC game and 38.4 in all games)
Michael Jordan Camp in summer of 2006

2004-2005 (Freshman):     

2005 AP All-SEC, 3rd Team
2005 SEC Coaches All-Freshman Team
Freshman Academic All-SEC
Set the school and Coleman Coliseum record for assists in his sixth career game when he dished out 18 assists against East Tennessee State University on Dec. 1, 2004
Did not make a single turnover in 33 minutes of play in that ETSU game and was guarding one of nation’s quickest stars, Tim Smith
His 18 single game assists against ETSU ranks T-2nd all-time in the Southeastern Conference in single game assists (19 is the record)
Led the SEC as a freshman in assists with his 5.0 assists per game (all games)
Led the SEC as a freshman in assists/turnover ratio with 2.46 per game (all games)
Dick Vitale’s “Diaper Dandy of the Week”, named in his ESPN column on December 4 for his record-setting 18 assists vs. ETSU
Only the 3rd player ever to start at point guard for Alabama as a true freshman in both his and the team’s first game; Ennis Whatley did it in 1982 and Mo Williams did it as a freshman in 2002
Played and started in all 32 games his freshman season in 2004-05
Averaged 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists a game as a freshman in 2004-05
Led the 2004-05 team with his .813% free throw shooting, connecting upon 52 of 64

PREP HIGHLIGHTS:

Two-time “Mr. Basketball” in the State of Alabama, a first in state history (won in 2003 and 2004)
Made state history in 2003 as first underclassman to win state’s “Mr. Basketball” when he took home the honor as a junior
Averaged 19 points, 7.6 assists and 4.1 steals in 2003
All-State in 2003 and 2004
Led the John Carroll Catholic High School Cavaliers to the 2003 State 6A title with a perfect 36-0 record
2003 and 2004 6A Player of the Year
Played for the North in the 2003 Alabama All-Star Sports Week North-South All-Star game
Coached by Marty Smith
2003 6A Finals MVP
Also all-state in football in high school
Played AAU basketball for Alabama ICE and Alabama Challenge

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

A financial planning major
Mom, Linda, is a UA graduate
Dad, Ronald, Sr., graduated from Southern University where he played football; he also played semi-pro football for the Birmingham Vulcans
First present ever received as a baby was a basketball
Used to dribble on roller skates as a kid
National Honor Society member in high school
Family includes a younger brother, Andrew \
Parents are Ronald Steele, Sr. and Linda Steele
Born April 22, 1986

University of Alabama Athletics