The University of Alabama men’s basketball program has granted an unconditional release to Jared Butler, a four-star point guard from Louisiana who signed with the Crimson Tide last November, The Tuscaloosa News has learned. He will transfer to Baylor, according to BU coach Scott Drew
The point guard has not been participating in preseason drills for UA since arriving in Tuscaloosa earlier this summer. UA officials did not comment immediately on Butler’s status, citing player privacy concerns.
Butler was the Nola.com Louisiana Player of the Year after averaging 28.0 points per game for Riverside Academy in metro New Orleans. He was ranked as the No. 75 overall player in the class of 2018, according to Scout.com
Alabama has three incoming freshmen for the 2018-19 season in 6-foot-9 Javion Fleming of Canton, Miss., 6-foot-3 Diante Wood of Anniston and its most recent addition, Top 40 point guard Kira Lewis of Hazel Green. Lewis, who had been considered a top national prospect for the Class of 2019, opted to graduate early from high school and reclassify as a 2018-19 prospect, signing financial aid papers and enrolling at Alabama last week.
Lewis will play point guard at Alabama, likely sharing time with junior Dazon Ingram and senior Avery Johnson, Jr.
The other newcomer for the Crimson Tide will be 6-foot-5 Texas transfer Tevin Mack. Senior Riley Norris will also return after missing all but nine games of the 2017-18 season due to hip surgery and receiving a medical redshirt. In addition, seven of the top nine scorers return from last year’s NCAA Tournament team.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
