Avery Johnson Jr.

(Dallas Morning News)

Avery Johnson was a regular at Texas A&M basketball games last season, watching and observing his son, Avery Jr., from the crowd while also conducting informal coaching and strategy sessions with Johnson Jr. at places such as local restaurants.

Johnson will now get to work much closer with Johnson Jr.

Johnson Jr. will transfer from Texas A&M and will join his father at Alabama, AL.com has learned.

Johnson Jr. was granted his release by the Aggies Friday afternoon as part of a mutual decision to part ways.

First off, I just want to say Thx to Coach Kennedy & his staff for offering me a scholarship and giving me a great opportunity to play here. — Avery Johnson Jr (@itsaveryjohnson) May 8, 2015

Also, I want to thank all my teammate's for everything but I have decided to transfer to another school to continue my basketball career. — Avery Johnson Jr (@itsaveryjohnson) May 8, 2015

A guard, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Johnson Jr. averaged 1.4 points per game as a freshman with the Aggies last season.

Rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect and the 56th-best point guard in his class, Johnson Jr. averaged 15 points and four rebounds as a senior at Plano West High School in Texas while helping his team win a district championship.

Alabama hired the elder Johnson in early April as the replacement for Anthony Grant, whom the Tide fired in March.

The initial plans regarding Johnson Jr. changed, as Johnson told AL.com at the time of his hire that his son planned to stay at Texas A&M.

"He's excited for me in this new challenge," Johnson, a former NBA coach of the Year, said in April. "He's always wanted me to coach in college. He didn't want me to go back to the NBA. ... My whole family got a chance to meet coach Battle and Mr. St. John. So it was more than just my decision. It was a family decision, and my kids were really pushing me to do this. As excited as I was, they were five times as excited."

Johnson Jr. will not be eligible to play this season under NCAA transfer rules.

Johnson Jr. will join the competition for playing time at point guard as a redshirt sophomore next year with a group that will likely include Justin Coleman, Dazon Ingram and possibly others following the departure of senior Retin Obasohan.