TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Alabama men's basketball head coach Anthony Grant likes what he's seen out of post players Jimmie Taylor and Michael Kessens since last season.
Kessens, a transfer from Longwood who sat out last season, gained 20 pounds of muscle over the past year, Grant said. He's listed at 6-foot-9 and 223 pounds, up from the 205 during his freshman season at Longwood.
Taylor, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound sophomore, started 18 games last year but scored just three points per game.
"I think all our guys did a great job this summer addressing the physical things we had to address and Jimmie is one of those guys," Grant said Saturday after his team participated in a Hoops on the Quad outdoor event.
"He just turned 19. He's a young sophomore. Every day goes by he's more confident, he's getting stronger, his skills are increasing, you see a lot of guys between freshman and sophomore years make a huge jump and I think he's one of those guys that can make that jump."
Kessens and guard Ricky Tarrant (Tulane) both sat out last season after transferring. Adding the muscle was something Kessens needed to do, Grant said.
"We're looking forward to a great season as well (for Kessens)," Grant said. "For a guy that hasn't played in a year like Ricky, it'll be fun to have him."
Tarrant, a junior from Pleasant Grove and true freshman Justin Coleman from Wenonah are running the point, but Grant pointed to the versatility of the team and said several players could play different roles.
Coleman and fellow freshmen Devin Mitchell, Riley Norris and Jeff Garrett have all adapted well since coming in this summer, Grant said, and they've fed off leadership from seniors like Rodney Cooper and Levi Randolph, junior Retin Obasohan and sophomore Shannon Hale.
"I've been really pleased overall with our veterans in terms of the leadership they're trying to provide and the young guys are doing a good job of listening," Grant said. "They've put in a lot of work and they've meshed well with the veterans."
Alabama hosts Montevallo in an exhibition on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. and the regular season opener is on Nov. 14 at home against Towson at 8 p.m.