{"id":288605,"date":"2025-06-11T19:23:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T19:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alabama\/alabama-basketball-meet-the-new-guys-a-change-of-scenery-will-work-wonders-for-jalil-bethea\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T19:23:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T19:23:22","slug":"alabama-basketball-meet-the-new-guys-a-change-of-scenery-will-work-wonders-for-jalil-bethea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=288605","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Basketball: Meet the New Guys: A change of scenery will work wonders for Jalil Bethea"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\nJalil Bethea, Sophomore<\/strong>
SG, 6\u20195\u201d (175)<\/strong>
ESPN 100 (10th), No. 3 SG<\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n

Last year the crown jewel of the Miami Hurricanes\u2019 recruiting class was 6\u20195\u201d SG Jalil Bethea. Bethea came to Coral Gables as a five-star recruit and McDonald\u2019s All-American with expectations to supercharge the \u2018Canes offense. He was touted as perhaps the most athletic player in that class too.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t work out that way for Bethea. In fact, for the miserable Hurricanes, <\/em>nothing worked out. UM was the worst power conference team in the nation, at one point being in the KenPom bottom 30. <\/p>\n

The changing landscape, player priorities and underperformance<\/a> would chase off long-time Miami coach Jim Larranaga (75), who hung it up after a 6-27 season. <\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAt this point, after 53 years, I just didn\u2019t feel that I could successfully navigate this whole new world that I was dealing with because my conversations were ridiculous with an agent saying to me, \u2018Well, you can get involved [with a prospective player] if you\u2019re willing to go to $1.1 million,\u2019 and that would be the norm,\u201d he said at a news conference.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sound familiar?<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I\u2019m going to play because they\u2019re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019m saying to myself, \u2018Maybe this doesn\u2019t work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it\u2019s all about how much money can I make as a college player?\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You Know Who.<\/a><\/p>\n

Larranaga\u2019s retirement in turn sent nearly the entire roster scrambling. And Bethea, a much-hyped recruit who had struggled to reach 7 points a night, and committed far too many turnovers at UM, was one of the first in the Portal. <\/p>\n

Despite his struggles, Alabama immediately leapt on the athletic Philly native. <\/p>\n

Why? <\/p>\n

As we wrote when he committed, if Bethea can put it together in Tuscaloosa, he can be a star in the making:<\/p>\n

\n

You could scarce build a better guard for the Tide\u2019s offense if you tried. Bethea comes in at a listed 6\u20195\u201d, has great floor vision, plays passing well lanes, is physical against dribble penetration, transitions from defense-to-offense well, is athletic and strong enough to take contact in the lane, and he\u2019s positively explosive flashing to the rim.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s really Bethea\u2019s shooting potential that entices you, that and his range. Jalil has a bit of a funky stroke, but it\u2019s very effective, particularly at his favorite spot on the floor: the wing-slot spots, from 25-feet or so. That depth is critical to his success, because defenders have a difficult time closing out on his jumpers. Add that to his release is so quick, playing so far off the line, and length enough to get shots over outstretched defenders, and you have a perfect \u2018Bama shooting guard.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n