Gottfried signs point guard from Mississippi JUCO
April 25, 2008
Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried addressed a huge need Friday when he announced the signing of junior college point guard Anthony Brock.
The 5-foot-9 player from Little Rock, Ark., has played the past two seasons at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College.
The Tide has a huge need at the point. Last year’s freshman starter Rico Pickett has transferred and senior Ronald Steele has declared for the NBA draft, but could still return.
Brock averaged 18.5 points, 4.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals last season at Itawamba, which was 30-4 last season. He was a second-team All-America for junior college this past season.
“Anthony is a very good point guard,” said Gottfried in a statement released by the university’s media relations office. “He has shot the ball extremely well, handles the ball well and can run a team. I like the fact that he is a tough competitor and winning is important to him. He finds a way to help his team win.“
Brock was a 47.3 percent (86-182) 3-point shooter this past season, shot 48 percent (196-408) from the field and 76.7 percent (151-197) at the free throw line.
He will have talented teammates. Gottfried signed three high school players during the November signing period — including 2008 McDonald’s All-American JaMychal Green, a 6-foot-9 center/forward from Montgomery. Green was voted the 2008 Mr. Basketball in the State of Alabama by the Alabama Sportswriter’s Association and led St. Jude to the Class 1A state championship. In early July Green has been invited to participate in the USA Basketball tryouts for the USA’s 2008 U18 FIBA American Championship Team that will compete in Argentina.
The other signees included Andrew Steele, a 6-foot-3 guard from Birmingham’s John Carroll Catholic who was the Class 5A Player of the Year., and Tony Mitchell, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Swainsboro, Ga., who averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks a game his senior year. Mitchell was the Class AA Player of the Year and the region Player of the Year in addition to being selected to Georgia’s 2008 North-South All-Star game squad.
