Alabama basketball PG Labaron Philon returns, SEC Meetings wrap up

Happy Thursday, everyone. The big news of the day is the return of basketball’s Labaron Philon, as Erik already covered for you.

Philon solves so many problems for ‘Bama in the backcourt. Size has been a problem the last few years, but this now gives Alabama three guards that hit 6’3”-plus. Philon is also the best returning defender. His 3:1 ASST:TO ratio is exemplary. He can get to the basket, put the ball on the floor, run the break, and create his own shot.

But perhaps best of all, it means Alabama does not have to go to war with an undersized PG (again), or play another combo player out of position (again)

Philon joins Tahaad Pettiford of Auburn, Otega Oweh of Kentucky, and Boogie Fland of Florida (via Arkansas), as point guard prospects who eschewed the draft to return to the SEC. This has to give pause to those who have suggested that the league is set to take a big step back.

Greg Byrne is pleased by what he sees from the football team thus far.

“I’ve been really impressed with the buy-in from the young men in our program,” Byrne said. “I think having coach (Ryan) Grubb there has been a real positive for the program. Kalen’s leadership through this historical transition has been really good across the board.”

Byrne highlighted that Alabama was the only SEC program to not lose a single scholarship player to the NCAA transfer portal in the spring window, one that shows the buy-in DeBoer also called apparent throughout the Crimson Tide’s spring.

“Guys are pouring everything into it right now,” DeBoer said. “They are almost over the top with the work they want to put in because of the desire they have to, you want to be great and have an amazing season. Coming off of last year, they want to prove some people right and prove some people wrong.”

Ryan Williams spoke about the EA Sports College Football game that he’s on the cover of.

During the photo shoot, the Alabama receiver was asked what he thinks his rating should be for the new game.

“Last year, I finished strong with a 90 overall,” Williams said in a video released on social media by the University of Alabama. “This year, at the beginning of the season, we need to be a 94-95. We have to start strong. By the end of the season, we gonna have that 99.”

SEC meetings wrap up today in Destin, and scheduling has been a major topic. The SEC and Big Ten are reportedly in talks of an alliance that would see more scheduled games between the leagues.

Speaking to a scrum of reporters at SEC Spring Meetings, the LSU football coach said a regular-season scheduling pact between the Big Ten and the SEC was discussed, one that Kelly said was widely supported.

“Our first goal would be wanting to play Big Ten teams, as coaches, and I can speak for the room. We want to play Big Ten schools. You’ve got to get a partner. You’ve got to get a partner who says, ‘We’re in for that, too.’ We’ve made our voice clear. Our ADs know that, as well, that we would like that. Our commissioner obviously heard us, as well. The rest will be up to what gets negotiated.”

Needless to say, this is a middle finger to the ACC and Big 12, and a flex for the Power Two.

Kirby Smart says that some collectives are paying high schoolers and then asking for the money back when they go elsewhere.

But more concerning, says Smart, is that some school-affiliated, booster collectives are currently compensating high school players — upwards of $20,000 a month — to remain committed and eventually sign with their school.

“Teams that are unusually good at recruiting right now are doing it. Kids are getting money, but if you decommit, you owe that money back,” Smart said. “These are high school kids getting money from an entity not affiliated with the university but is a collective of the university.”

Pressed to identify the schools, Smart said none of them are in the SEC, but the schools “are signing kids [to contracts] right now and paying upfront through an outside collective.”

It is the latest maneuver from athletic departments to take advantage of this murky, unregulated space as college sports transitions the way in which it compensates athletes — from booster-backed collectives to direct school revenue sharing, a move scheduled to be finalized July 1 if the House settlement is approved.

Lovely.

Last, open up in the comments and tell us how this makes you feel.

That’s about it for now. Have a great day.

Roll Tide.