Oats loves Alabama and...     

     He has just been given a lengthy contract extension and a nice raise. Oats is reportedly making 3.25 million now. That's a significant number who was a high school math teacher/basketball coach just a few years ago. Alabama has fallen in love with Coach Oats. Not only is he a great coach, but he appears to be a great human being as well. The story about his family opening up their door and hearts to a young man was moving and gave us some insight into the Oats family's character. The Alabama nation should be proud to have him in our community. His coaching is like the cherry on top of a sundae. It seems to me that Oats exudes old-fashioned values, which many fans are happy to see. This is not saying that other Alabama coaches didn't do the same. 

     I'm curious to see where his recruiting takes the Tide. Keep in mind that the seniors were not recruited by Oats initially. But, he did recruit them when Avery was fired. He had to convince Jones, Lewis, Petty, and  Reese to remain at Alabama and help Oats establish his program. These players will not be easily replaced.  Oats is hot on the trail of several highly rated recruits. I've talked with a couple of them. I'll tell you what they have said when they tell me it's okay to share.  In general terms, they are very interested in Alabama and the offensive philosophy the Tide uses. There is a transfer I mentioned yesterday, a couple of Candian players, and grad transfers yet to be identified. 

     I talked to a coach in Canada about Oats. Word on the streets of Toronto is that Nate Oats is building a program that welcomes Canadian players.  You probably know that Buffalo is just across the border from Canada. At Buffalo, Coach Oats started to recruit Canadian high schoolers, first as an assistant and then as head coach. His efforts continue today.  The Romulus High School Math teacher/basketball coach is building the foundation for dominating basketball at Alabama. He is making 3.25 million per year now, and if you want to steal Oats from Bama, be ready to write a check for a ten million dollar buy-out.

ALREADY SIGNED THIS SEASON:

• JD Davison - According to most rating services, JD Davison - 6-2 1/2 point guard, Calhoun High School, Letohatchee, Alabama, is the top-ranked point guard in America. A consensus five-star recruit. Most experts project him as a potential one and done and hello NBA guy. He is extremely explosive around the rim and has a high basketball IQ. He is a better than average outside shooter and will be better when he doesn't have to carry the burden of offensive scorer alone. In the first high school game, Jaddarion Davison opened the season by scoring 57 points in the first game.  He is averaging 42 points per game, 11 rebounds,  8 steals, and 4.5 blocked shots. He plays at a 2-A school, but he has played against nationally elite competition.

• Langston Wilson - 6-9 forward, 200 lbs. from Georgia Highlands College. He is from Upper Derby, Pa. He has some serious hops and is can finish at the rim. What makes him a great recruit is he can also shoot the three. Think Herb Jones, who needs to learn how to play man-to-man defense. 'Bama beat out Arizona State for his signature. He needs some time in the weight room to gain strength and weight. He hasn't played basketball but a couple of years. He is a four-star recruit and a JUCO top-five player. He has a chance to develop into an excellent player. He has the length that Nate Oats demands. 
• Jusuan Holt - 6-6 shooting forward from Francis Day School in Roswell, Georgia. The kid can shoot the rock. He has all it takes to be a prolific offensive threat. He is smooth, not explosive. A year in the weight room and some feeding frenzies will do him well. He had offers from Clemson, UNC, Georgia, and Georgia Tech. I wonder if a red-shirt year might help? 

BAMA IS RECRUITING:

• Charles Bediako - 6-11 post player, currently enrolled at IMG Academy in Florida. He is from Canada and played with Josh Primo on Canada without Borders Internation team. He has listed a five-star candidate on some sites and our on others. He has five schools listed - Duke, Ohio State,  Michigan, Texas, and Alabama. Most experts feel like he is 'Bama bound. He is a tremendous inside player who can also play on the perimeter. He has length and can be a  rim protector and rim-rocker as well. He can run the floor. He is now up to 220, having gained 20 lbs. since attending IMG. He isn't a one a done. He could be a two, and I'm through sort of guy. Tremendous upside. He's the post player that can go head to head with other post players in the SEC. He likes Bama, but I don't think he's a lock. Most others do and let's hope they are correct. His relationship with Primo is important. By the way, he likes the warm weather in the Deep South. One final thing - he also likes Nate Oats and the program he is building. He likens their style of play as NBA-like and says Bama can help him. I think Alabama will get him if the Tide has a strong run in the NCAA.
• Namiri Burnette - Texas Tech transfer. 6-3 combo guard from Napa, California. The ESPN five-star was the highest-ranked prospect in Texas Tech basketball history but found himself lacking the playing time he needed. He got caught behind Mac McClung, who transferred into Tech. He can play the point or the two-guard. He runs the floor like a  greyhound on speed. He is a good shooter, and his high school numbers were otherworldly. If he doesn't choose Bama, it will be because of Davison. He loves Oats and his style of play. Bama finished second to Tech before, but he had a great visit to Ttown.

    You could throw a blanket over Kentucky and Bama for the top class in the early period. I think seeing 'Bama near the top in SEC recruiting is going to a regular occurrence. 

Tomorrow: Vandy comes calling Tuscaloosa.