Alabama Basketball Aims to Capitalize on JUCO Talent Again with Nick Pringle

This is not the primary time Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats has regarded to the junior faculty ranks to seek out items for his crew in Tuscaloosa.

James Rojas and Keon Ellis, each of whom have been key items of Alabama’s roster of their collegiate careers, have been each highly-rated JUCO prospects of their respective lessons. Oats is trying to proceed the pattern with Nick Pringle this season. 

The 6-foot-9 ahead was a three-star recruit based on 247Sports, and ranked the No. 5 general junior faculty prospect within the nation and No. 1 JUCO energy ahead. 

The Seabrook, S.C. product initially enrolled at Wofford as a freshman throughout the 2020-21 season, however noticed extraordinarily restricted enjoying time and transferred to Dodge Metropolis Group School in Dodge Metropolis, Kan.

There he was a significant piece of a crew that went 30-5 in 2021-22, and his play earned him massive seems to be on the recruiting path. Final season, Pringle averaged 9.2 factors per recreation to go together with a powerful 8.9 rebounds, ok for the crew lead. He additionally topped Dodge Metropolis in subject purpose share at 61.8 p.c. 

Pringle posted 14 double-digit rebounding video games throughout final season and recorded seven double-doubles as effectively.

If it wasn’t apparent by his stats, Pringle is a big-bodied, robust ahead who weighs 220 kilos. His measurement and energy are what defines his recreation, as his specialty is rebounding and offering a low-post presence each on the offensive and defensive ends of the ground.

Pringle likes to play above the rim, and has the athleticism and leaping capability to take action with relative ease. He additionally has a knack for catching and ending lobs, in addition to rising up after catching passes within the publish to throw down thunderous dunks.

His finest ability at Dodge Metropolis was rebounding, which can also be the most important worth he can deliver Alabama this season. Along with his freak athleticism, Pringle is aware of the right way to place himself finest on each ends and has a high-effort mentality proven finest by his relentless crashing of the glass.

Pringle has lengthy arms which serve him effectively as a defender and a rim protector. He has nice footwork for his measurement which permits him to remain in entrance of the opposition, and his bounce and size are the precise instruments wanted for him to be an elite rim protector.

The transition from JUCO to the Division-I recreation won’t be simple, however Oats believes Pringle has all the instruments to be a profitable participant for Alabama. 

“We predict he offers us a unique dimension within the frontcourt,” Oats mentioned. “He stands out as the most versatile and athletic ahead in all of junior faculty basketball […] We’re trying ahead to including an skilled frontcourt participant to the roster.”

Beneath are some performs that show how Pringle can contribute to the Crimson Tide.

These two performs present two major ways in which Pringle will likely be utilized in half-court units at Alabama.

Within the first clip, Pringle executed a normal pick-and-roll in the direction of the basket that ought to be routine for him in Tuscaloosa. After he caught the cross from his teammate, he used one dribble to get himself nearer to the basket after which confirmed off his athleticism by rising as much as throw down the dunk.

Within the second clip, the ball was on the appropriate wing and Pringle settled close to the left block in what is called the ‘dunker’ spot. With the opposing protection operating zone, Pringle’s teammate drove and located him for a simple cross and end when the protection collapsed on the ball handler. Towards any crew operating a zone protection this will likely be an attacking place for Pringle.

The following two performs showcase Pringle’s versatility and athleticism except for simply his leaping capabilities. 

The primary exhibits Pringle out as a wing defender and he acknowledged his opposition dropping management of the basketball. He reached out together with his lengthy arms to make the steal, after which, impressively for his measurement and place, dribbled the size of the ground and completed with a dunk.

Within the second clip, Pringle grabbed a defensive rebound and threw a normal outlet cross to his guard. From there he ran towards the rim and lower onerous as soon as he reached the three-point line to obtain the cross. 

Not each massive man can rim run with ease, in order that’s a feather in Pringle’s cap.

The most important query marks with Pringle as a prospect are his lack of an outdoor recreation in addition to the interpretation of his rim safety in opposition to larger, extra bodily opponents within the SEC. 

On the constructive aspect, although, his athleticism is simple and he has the drive and energy to earn himself a spot on the court docket even when he nonetheless wants to shine different points of his recreation. 

“I’m going to come back away with quite a lot of helmets, I already know,” Pringle instructed BamaCentral in February, referring to the crew’s Arduous Hat Award.

With that mentality and the bodily traits to go lengthy with it, Pringle is certain to see significant enjoying time in Tuscaloosa whether or not that be this 12 months or sooner or later, given he nonetheless has three years of eligibility remaining. 

We’ll go away you with one remaining clip displaying off Pringle’s most eye-popping attribute, throwing down a bottom lob with authority in the midst of a recreation:

Alabama Basketball Participant Breakdowns

Brandon Miller

Mark Sears

Jaden Bradley

Nimari Burnett

Dom Welch

Noah Clowney

Rylan Griffen