Tue Apr 8 17:52:09 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Alabama PG Steele to test NBA Draft waters

---

Tuscaloosa, AL (Sports Network) - University of Alabama point guard Ronald Steele, who missed all of the 2007-08 season while taking a medical redshirt, announced Tuesday that he will submit his name into the 2008 NBA Draft. Steele will not hire an agent, leaving open the option to return for a fifth season with the Crimson Tide program.

Steele, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior from Birmingham, underwent arthroscopic surgeries on both his knees on April 3, 2007, and then a follow-up procedure on the left knee August 23.

In his absence, the Tide struggled to a 17-16 record that saw them go just 5-11 in Southeastern Conference play, and missed the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

"This decision may come as a surprise to some," said Steele. "While I did not participate in any games this year, I did practice fully with the team. Since January I have felt as good physically as at any time during my career. I also believe my basketball skill has never been better. It is my hope that the NBA will invite me to the NBA Pre-Draft camp. If they do, I plan to attend and use it to show NBA staff that I am a healthier, better playing than I have ever been. After attending the camp, I will sit down with my parents and Alabama coaches and review the information from the NBA teams. Again, to be clear, I intend to keep all my options open, including playing at the University of Alabama next season. I support the coaching staff and know that they are supporting me through the process."

Steele followed up a first year in which he earned All-SEC Freshman honors with a stellar sophomore season in 2005-06, when he averaged 14.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. But injuries limited the preseason All- American to 25 games as a junior, and Alabama stumbled to an underachieving 20-12 record and missed the NCAA Tournament in 2006-07.

Having already graduated in December of 2007 with a degree in financial planning, Steele had been planning to return for the 2008-09 season after the NCAA granted him a fifth year of eligibility. That eligibility will remain intact provided he does not sign with an agent and withdraws his name from the draft by the June 16 deadline.

Alabama junior forward Richard Hendrix, the team's leading scorer and rebounder this past season, also entered his name into the draft last month.