Gottfried: Crimson Tide freshman guard Glenn Miles will transfer

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama freshman guard Glenn Miles will transfer to another school, Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried announced Tuesday morning.

Gottfried, who had announced on Monday that Miles was no longer practicing with the team, said that he did not know where Miles would enroll.

"We wish Glenn well in whatever he chooses to do," Gottfried said.

Miles, a 6-foot-4 guard, was an All-State selection at West End High School in Birmingham for the past two seasons.

Although Miles had seen only limited action in one exhibition game, Gottfried said the departure would leave Alabama in a precariously thin position at the point guard position.

"We will have walk-ons [LaKory Daniels and Brandon Davis] playing behind Ron Steele, who is a freshman," Gottfried said. "We won't have a lot of options there."

Alabama will open its regular season on Friday, hosting Western Carolina in a 5:30 p.m. game at Coleman Coliseum.

As anticipated, UA officially released its list of men's basketball signees from the early signing period Tuesday.

"I'm excited about our class because we signed four quality students who are interested in graduating as well as four quality players who I think will be great additions to our basketball programs," Gottfried said.

The Tide's four signees are 6-foot-7, 240-pound power forward Richard Hendrix of Athens; 6-10 center Yamene Coleman of Camden Wilcox Central; 6-6 swingman Alonzo Gee of Palm Beach, Fla.; and 6-2 guard Ray George of Georgia Perimeter Community College in Atlanta.

Hendrix, one of the top prospects in the nation, has 2,078 career points, 1,289 career rebounds, 467 blocked shots and 100 consecutive starts for Athens High School. He has nine career triple doubles in points, rebounds and blocks. He averaged 22.1 points, 13.7 rebounds and 6.1 blocked shots in 2004. He was a Parade All-American as a junior.

"Richard Hendrix is as good a person as he is a player," Gottfried said. "He's a big player who's got great hands. He's versatile. He can score around the basket and away from the basket. He's just a very talented young man."

Coleman averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds a game as a junior in 2004 and is a consensus Top 100 player on the national recruiting lists.

"I think Yamene is a player who is going to develop into a great player at Alabama," Gottfried said. "He comes in with great size and a tremendous work ethic. He's a center who I think will blossom in our program."

George, a native of Decatur, Ga., averaged 21 points and 10 assists last season for Georgia Perimeter, which made its fourth appearance at nationals last season and is currently ranked No. 15 in the nation. Street & Smith's has named George a first-team junior college preseason All-American.

"I think Ray George is going to be a tremendously exciting player," said Gottfried. "He's one of the most athletic combo guards in the nation. I like the fact that he led his team to Hutchinson [the Kansas site of the NJCAA Tournament] last season as a freshman. He's a winner and he's a great athlete who has great basketball skills."

Gee averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists his junior season at Dwyer High School. Dwyer won the 2004 Class 5A state championship, led by Gee who was an All-State Tournament choice. Gee was the MVP at the 2004 Adidas Showcase national tournament.

"Alonzo Gee is a player we're very excited about," Gottfried said.

"When we evaluated the players across the country this past year, he moved to the top of the class as far as being a player who can shoot the ball from the perimeter and just as a great scorer. He will bring a lot to our team with his size and shooting ability."

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or at (205) 722-0229.