Firepower SZN: Alabama adds five-star McDonald’s AA shooting guard Jalil Bethea out of the Portal

The Crimson Tide played very small guards this year — 246th in the country. And after the ‘Bama backcourt struggled to find looks against taller teams on the schedule, it was clear Alabama had to get size at the positions. Yesterday, Alabama announced the return of Trelly and Mallette, answering some significant questions about length in the backcourt, but ‘Bama really needed more depth at the SG spot as well.

Enter the very exciting five-star shooter, Jalil Bethea from the woeful Miami Hurricanes.

You could scarce build a better guard for the Tide’s offense if you tried. Bethea comes in at a listed 6’5”, has great floor vision, plays passing well lanes, is physical against dribble penetration, transitions from defense-to-offense well, is athletic and strong enough to take contact in the lane, and he’s positively explosive flashing to the rim.

But it’s really Bethea’s shooting potential that entices you, that and his range. Jalil has a bit of a funky stroke, but it’s very effective, particularly at his favorite spot on the floor: the wing-slot spots, from 25-feet or so. That depth is critical to his success, because defenders have a difficult time closing out on his jumpers. Add that to his release is so quick, playing so far off the line, and length enough to get shots over outstretched defenders, and you have a perfect ‘Bama shooting guard.

His accuracy and TO rate definitely need some improvement, but if you watched the ‘Canes this year, you noticed that they rarely screened off-ball for their shooters, leaving them on an island far too often. That’s a recipe for disaster on a bad Miami team that was offensively limited to guards-or-nothing. Don’t be surprised to see his shooting percentages go up significantly, nor for him to be far more active in the screen-and-roll game. He penetrates every bit as well as Sears did, but with a bit more physicality to finish in traffic. And, like Sears, he’s a very good free throw shooter; so, he’s making those trips count.

Bethea’s stat line from last year won’t wow you (7.2/2.1/1.2), but the 6’5” Philly native has a lot of potential, and it would not at all be surprising to see him thrive in a system built for his skill set, and on a team with a far better supporting cast and elite coaching. He doesn’t have Chris Youngblood’s pedigree, but with his size and strength, he’s plainly going to occupy that role as ‘Bama’s backcourt enforcer.

Welcome to the Capstone, Jalil

Roll Tide!