Alabama Basketball: Diante Smith becomes Tide’s first 2019 commit

Avery Johnson is known as a great recruiter. And his ability to schmooze recruits once again paid off. Here’s the info on Alabama Basketball’s first 2019 commit.

Alabama head coach Avery Johnson scored his first 2019 commitment when Diante Smith chose the Crimson Tide on July 4. The Walton Beach (Fla.) native told Rivals’ Corey Evans that Johnson was a major reason he selected the Tide.

“I like their playing style and the way coach Avery Johnson coaches. When I went on the unofficial visit there, it just felt like home,” he said. “My dad is a big LSU fan and for him to love ‘Bama and coach Avery, it means a lot.”

Smith, who possesses good size and athleticism, really blossomed on the AAU circuit this spring. 13 of his 21 scholarship offers had come since April. Alabama didn’t offer him until April 28. He unofficially visited Tuscaloosa on June 18.

The lengthy three-star wing has the ability to score on all three levels, is a solid playmaker and can defend three positions. He also has a sweet shooting stroke and has developed into a good 3-point shooter.

Smith is coming off a solid junior at Choctawhatchee high school. The first team all-state selection tallied 17.5 points a game on 56.0% shooting from the floor and 41% from beyond the arc last season. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks.

Smith scored in double figures in 24 of 28 games and produced four double-doubles. He topped the 20-point plateau 10 times. This includes a 46 point outburst against Escambia (Jan. 9) where he made 16 of 24 shots from the field.

Smith is ranked No. 213 in the class by 247 Composite. He chose Alabama over Auburn, Florida, and LSU among others.

Next: SEC Preseason Rankings for 2018-19

With Smith’s commitment, Verbal Commits projects that Alabama will have three open roster spots available in 2019-20. Let’s see who the Crimson Tide targets next.