Men's Basketball Begins Practice Friday Afternoon
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 15, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The second season of the Anthony Grant era began today as the Crimson Tide basketball team held its first official team practice of the 2010-11 season with a spirited two-hour practice in Coleman Coliseum.
The Tide finished 17-15 (6-10 SEC) last season, but looks to build upon the wealth of experience that the team gained during its first season under head coach Anthony Grant. As the season progressed, the team saw successes which it will look to use to help propel them into the upper echelon of the SEC.
"The experience we gained last year; I don't think there's any substitute for that," Grant said. "The lessons learned can be hard lessons and we learned our share of hard lessons last year. Hopefully the things we took away from that will make us tougher, make us more prepared and know what to expect as we go into the preparations here this season."
As year two under Coach Grant begins the returners understand what the coaching staff expects of them and have put in the hours and dedicated themselves to getting better for 2010-11.
"We worked hard this offseason," junior forward JaMychal Green said. "Now we know what to expect after a year with Coach Grant. It is very important to us to get better. Everybody has put in a lot of time in the gym and in the weight room. It's going to be a new year."
The Alabama offense will be stout as it welcomes back three of its top four scorers from a season ago in Green (14.1 ppg) Freshman All-SEC standout Tony Mitchell (9.2 ppg) and Senario Hillman (7.9 ppg). Green also helped the Tide defense as he led the team in blocks (52) and rebounds (7.2 rpg). Alabama returns eight players in all.
This season's roster also welcomes five newcomers. The Tide brings in a fresh crop of top-notch recruits in Jason Carter (F), Kendall Durant (G) Carl Engstrom (C), Charles Hankerson, Jr. (G/F) and Trevor Releford (G).
Carter and Releford were both ranked as four-star recruits by rivals.com. Releford was also named the best ball-handling prep guard by SLAM Magazine and earned the honor of the Kansas City Star's All-Metro Player of the Year.
Coach Grant is excited by the progress he has seen from Releford so far, saying, "I think he's got a chance to be a very good player with what he brings to the table both offensively, and he has great leadership skills as well.
Durant, the cousin of NBA star Kevin Durant, was a three-star recruit as rated by rivals.com and comes to Alabama after two years at Weatherford Community College where he shot 48 percent from the field over two seasons.
Swedish import Carl Engstrom comes to the Capstone after competing for the Swedish U20 national team over the summer. Standing a massive 7-1, the coaching staff is intrigued by Engstom's play so far in offseason workouts. "He's got a great work ethic and I like the things he brings to the table for our team," Grant said. "I think he has a desire to learn and grow and get better."
Another highly touted recruit, Charles Hankerson, Jr., comes to Tuscaloosa with a wealth of accolades. Rated a four-star prospect by scout.com, the 2009 Miami Herald 6A-5A Player of the Year averaged 31 points and 11.3 rebounds during his senior season and was selected to the first-team All-Dade County squad in 2010.
With a solid recruiting class and some of the top performers returning from a year ago, the 2010-11 team remains focused on the daily process of improving.
"For us, it's more about the process and controlling the things we can control," Grant said. "How hard we play, the attitudes and habits we develop, the willingness to do the things required to win, playing to our identity, all the things we have to do."
And this belief is something that Coach Grant and his staff have all the players believing in as well.
"Right now we are just trying to take it one day at a time," senior guard Charvez David said. "We will start practice and focus on the things we can improve on right now."
The Tide will continue its preseason practices and preparations leading up to the 2010-11 team's debut on Nov. 2 in an exhibition contest against Talladega College. The regular season tips off on Nov. 12 when Florida A&M opens the home schedule.
