Alabama added a big commitment from the No. 1 junior college combo guard, Keon Ellis, Sunday morning as the Florida Southwestern State standout chose the Crimson Tide over Kansas State, Iowa State, and others. Ellis averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game this past season for the Buccaneers. Florida SouthWestern State head coach Eric Murphy talked about how the new UA pledge has developed in his time as his coach.

“He’s made a lot of strides,” Murphy told BamaOnLine. “He came in a really talented player. He’s just grown up and been more mature as a player throughout the season. He took more of a leadership role throughout the season. He’s always been a guy that’s been talented and knows the game really well, but he had to score the ball more than probably what he’s ever had to do in the past. I thought he did well in that role for us.”

Alabama was the first high major program to offer the 6-foot-6, 165-pound guard earlier this year. In the weeks since programs like ISU and KSU joined the fold. Other programs like Georgia, Ole Miss, SMU, and Texas A&M were in contact.

“He had to score the ball more for us this year,” Murphy replied when asked what clicked to get the bigger programs involved. “When he had the game in December, he had 36 and eight threes in that game … that started to get the attention of college recruiters. Then in January when he scored 41 on 22 shots. That really caught everybody’s attention because that’s hard to do. You score 41 points on 22 shots, that’s hard to do. People just started to take notice of it. He’s always had that talent and the capability, it just needed to come out of him. That’s something that this year he really had to do is become more of scorer. That’s really something that he wasn’t naturally coming in the door as. He’s just more of an all around player. I think this year he became more of a scorer.”

Murphy was impressed with the Crimson Tide’s staff pursuit of Ellis.

“I think they’ve done the best job out of all the teams,” he said of the Tide. “Coach (Nate) Oats, he’s been down twice to see Keon. It’s hard to get the head coach in the middle of their season to come down and watch us play. He’s made it a priority and his staff has made it a priority that they really wanted Keon. That goes a long way in my book being a coach and that’s something I preach to the guys. You gotta go where you’re wanted. If the head coach is making you a priority, then obviously they want you.”

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