For a second consecutive day, an Alabama men’s basketball player has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal, allowing him to explore options and have contact with other programs while considering where he wants to play in the 2019-20 season.
Kira Lewis, Alabama’s leading scorer from the just concluded season, entered the portal Tuesday. While he can explore options, those options would include removing his name from the portal and remaining at Alabama, presumably after meeting with the Crimson Tide’s next coach.
UA Director of Athletics Greg Byrne is seeking to replace former head coach Avery Johnson, who came to a mutual departure agreement with school officials this past Sunday.
On Monday, senior guard Dazon Ingram announced via his Instagram account that he would enter the transfer portal. Ingram, who graduated last December, would be immediately eligible at another school under the NCAA graduate transfer policy. Lewis, a freshman, would have to sit out a year as a transfer unless he received a waiver from the NCAA.
Lewis, a five-star prospect from Hazel Green High School, reclassified in order to begin his college career this summer. He started all 34 games for the Crimson Tide, averaging 13.5 points and 2.9 assists per game. He was chosen to the SEC All-Freshman team by the league’s coaches following the season.
Steve Prohm, the Iowa State head coach and Alabama alumnus, was signed on Tuesday to a three-year contract extension that runs through the Cyclones’ 2024-25 season. Prohm has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Alabama vacancy although that potential candidacy never seemed to gain significant momentum from either Prohm or UA.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
