While it is still way-too-early in the college basketball offseason, you will already be hard to find a backcourt within the SEC deeper than Alabama Basketball. One that got even deeper when starting point guard Jahvon Quinerly announced his return to Tuscaloosa over the weekend, is the Crimson Tide backcourt the deepest in the SEC?
Is the Alabama Basketball backcourt the deepest in the SEC?
Well, when answering that question, how about let’s make the case for the Crimson Tide and then let you decide. Here are the projected top four guards for Alabama Basketball in 2022-23, three of which were McDonald’s All-Americans out of high school.
Jahvon Quinerly
As mentioned previously, Quinerly recently announced over the weekend that he would be returning to Alabama for the 2022-23 campaign after averaging 13.8 PPG, 3 RPG, and 4.2 APG as the starting point guard this past season. While the return timetable for Quinerly, who is recovering from an injury suffered in the Crimson Tide’s NCAA Tournament game, is unknown, the former five-star recruit will likely be the starting point guard once again whenever he returns.
Nimari Burnett
One of the top defensive guards in the SEC, Burnett was a big loss for the Crimson Tide a year ago when the former four-star suffered a season-ending injury before the season began. A transfer from Texas Tech last offseason who averaged 5.3 PPG across 12 games as a freshman, Burnett would’ve been a significant piece for the Crimson Tide a year ago if not injured, and could potentially be the starting two-guard for Alabama this season.
Jaden Bradley
All eyes will certainly be on Bradley this season as the five-star comes to Tuscaloosa as the nation’s No. 3 point guard in the 2022 class, as well as the sixth highest-rated recruit in Alabama Basketball history. One of the top playmaking guards in the entire 2022 class at 6-foot-3, Bradley is likely the starting point guard for the Crimson Tide to begin the 2022-23 season with Quinerly recovering from injury.
Mark Sears
The newest edition to the Alabama Basketball roster, Sears will certainly be one of the Crimson Tide’s top scorers this season, as well as a player who could potentially start also. A name talked about previously, Sears is coming off a phenomenal 2021-22 season in which he averaged 19.6 PPG, 6 RPG, and 4.1 APG at Ohio.
It’s clear by looking at Alabama’s top four guards listed above that the Crimson Tide already have an extremely talented backcourt. With talented scoring freshman wing Rylan Griffen also added to the mix this upcoming season, is Alabama’s backcourt the deepest in the SEC?