In a move that could impact spring recruiting for several University of Alabama sports, especially men’s and women’s basketball, the Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) has announced changes and further monitoring in the signing period for National Letters of Intent.
The upcoming signing period is scheduled to begin on April 15 and extend until May 20. However, the CCA could delay or further extend that period because of an NCAA ruling that prohibits any in-person contact with prospects, including potential campus visits. Coaches can currently contact prospects only by telephone (including video conferencing), text message or e-mail. Many prospects have yet to make campus visits, with many visits planned for April following the end of high school and junior college play.
The possible changes create a good deal of uncertainty for a program like Alabama, which had been generally expected to add anywhere from two to five prospects in the late period. Alabama coach Nate Oats cannot comment on specific recruits due to NCAA rules. The Crimson Tide signed one prospect, 6-foot-8 forward Keon Ambrose. UA has also been linked with Canadian guard Josh Primo, regarded as one of the Top 10 prospects available in the late period.
According to several internet reports, Alabama has contacted at least four players who have entered the NCAA transfer portal since the season was halted last week including forward Landers Nolley II of Virginia Tech, power forward Kevin Marfo of Quinnipiac, guard
Jamarius Burton of Wichita State and guard Darius Perry of Louisville.
Alabama had only one senior on its 2019-2020 roster, guard Beetle Bolden. Freshman center Raymond Hawkins has entered the transfer portal and two of the team’s top players, guard Kira Lewis and forward John Petty, are expected to explore the possibility of the NBA Draft.
The CCA also announced a postponement and eventual extension in the current football signing period which began in February and was set to conclude on April 1. The decision is not expected to have an impact on Southeastern Conference teams like Alabama because those schools generally finish their “late” recruiting on the first day of this signing period, with only a small scattering or prospects waiting to sign.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or via Twitter @cecilhurt
