Crimson Tide signee Jaden Bradley says Alabama is "going in a good direction"
A pair of Alabama men’s basketball signees are representing the program at this week’s McDonald’s All-American Game.
In Chicago this week for the distinguished all-star event are Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley. Due to a small injury he sustained, however, Bradley will be unable to participate in Tuesday’s event.
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Although he will not be playing later tonight, Bradley told media members on Monday that he is honored to have been recognized in the first place.
“It’s just a blessing to be here with this great group of guys and girls,” Bradley said. “Just to be coming up here. Even though I’m not playing, [it’s a] great opportunity to make connections and meet new people and do great things. Just blessed to be here.”
Jaden Bradley details why he chose Alabama, connection with Brandon Miller
In the 2022 recruiting cycle, Nate Oats and his staff signed the No. 6 recruiting class in the nation. Of course, the first prospect to join the fold was Bradley, who rewarded Alabama with a commitment back on Sept. 30, 2021.
Bradley, the No. 2 point guard on the On3 Consensus, says his relationship with the coaches and the offensive system that the Crimson Tide employs led to them coming out on top.
“The coaching staff, we had been talking for a little while,” Bradley said. “They were up at Buffalo before they came to Alabama. I’m originally from Rochester, New York, so it’s not too far. The Zoom calls we had… I love their system and how they let their guards play freely and how the guards have control over the game. That’s something I can see myself doing. That just seemed like a perfect fit for me.”
The next prospect to join forces with Alabama after Bradley was Miller. Miller is labeled by the On3 Consensus as a five-star small forward and the No. 14 overall player in his class.
With Bradley starting his pursuit of Miller shortly after his commitment, it wasn’t a surprise to hear that the pair of 2022 signees already have a strong bond.
“We have a great connection,” Bradley said of Miller. “I’ve been to a couple of his games this year when I was injured. Just trying to build that chemistry so next year on the court, it’s already there and we can just go on from there.”
Bradley’s recruiting efforts for Alabama are not done just yet. The program recently played host to Princeton transfer Jaelin Llewellyn and are after other prospects in the transfer portal.
“The coaching staff — Coach Oats and Coach Bryan [Hodgson] — they’ve been hitting me up, talking about some transfer portal guys,” Bradley said. “We’re just always trying to find ways to make our roster better.”
The Crimson Tide are heading in a good direction, according to Bradley
Two seasons ago, Alabama finished with a 26-7 record and made an appearance in the Sweet 16. This year, however, they had 7 less wins and were bounced out of the NCAA Tournament after just one game.
The end to the season did not go as planned, but Bradley liked what he saw from the Crimson Tide when healthy.
“Their season, like you said, was a very up and down season,” Bradley said. “Beginning of the year, had some big wins against Gonzaga, Baylor, teams like that. I think at the tournament time, with the injury that happened during the game with Jahvon Quinerly going down, it kind of hanged on the team a little bit. I think they did pretty well, though.”
Combining those positive moments from last season with the class they’re bringing in, Bradley believes his future team is on the right path.
“They’ve been doing pretty well,” Bradley said. “Getting deep into the tournament two years ago. This year, not so much, but they still got some big wins [against] Gonzaga, Baylor, Houston… it’s going in a good direction.”
Per the On3 Consensus, Bradley is the No. 23 overall player in the 2022 class. The 6-foot-2, 178-pounder, who hails from IMG Academy, is listed as the fifth-ranked prospect in Florida.
