Three sign with Alabama basketball

The early signing period wrapped up Wednesday for the University of Alabama men’s basketball program, which announced the signing of three prospects: forward Juwan Gary (Charlotte, North Carolina/West Charlotte High School)and guards Jaylen Forbes (Florence, Mississippi/Florence HS) and Jaden Shackelford (Hesperia, California/Hesperia HS). All three are four-star prospects in the most recent 247 Sports rankings

“Our 2019 signing class is one that we are very optimistic about,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said in a UA release. “Each one addresses an area of how we want to play and the style we desire to play on the court. They each have strong work ethic, ball-handling ability and will knock down open shots on a consistent basis. All three are high-level people who we believe will not only be successful on the court, but in the classroom as well.”

Johnson also offered individual comments on each signee.

“Juwan is a prospect that we fell in love with from the first moment we watched him,” Johnson said. “(He) has a high motor and plays with maximum energy on both sides of the floor. He’s a knock-down three-point shooter. Juwan has strong character and bounces back extremely well from adversity.

“Jaylen Forbes is a player who is from our footprint area of the Southeast,” Johnson said. “We feel Jaylen is one of the best pure shooters in the country. He is a knock-down 3-point shooter who is a threat as soon as he crosses half-court. We were very impressed with how strong he finished the AAU season and really showed his athleticism and ability to create plays off the dribble.

“Jaden Shackelford brings an explosiveness as a combo guard. He can get his shot off against anybody. He has a great body, is an outstanding defender and is a high-level ball handler who has great court vision.”

Drew Timme, a 6-foot-10 forward from Dallas, Texas, and a prospect Alabama recruited heavily, chose Gonzaga on Wednesday morning.

The state of Alabama’s top prospect, 6-8 forward Trendon Watford of Mountain Brook, is not expected to sign in the early period. Watford is being recruited by Alabama, Memphis, Florida State, Indiana, LSU and others.

GYMNASTICS

Alabama signed two gymnasts, four-time USA Junior Olympic National Team member Makarri Doggette of Pickerington, Ohio, and three-team national team member Mati Waligora of Rochester, Mich.

Doggette was a nine-time Junior Olympics national champion who won two all-around titles. She won the all-around and all four individual events in 2018, a feat that had been accomplished by only one previous gymnast.

“I chose Alabama mainly because of the coaching staff,” she said. “I felt a really strong connection with them immediately and knew I would be well taken care of. I also fell in love with the campus the second I got there and felt at home.”

Waligora was 2017 all-around champion at the Junior Olympics and also won the floor exercise title.

“Being part of the traditions and legacy of Alabama gymnastics is an amazing blessing,” she said.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Crimson Tide added two women’s basketball signees in guards Mystique Womack of Marlin, Texas, and Destiny Rice of Shreveport, La.

Womack is a 5-foot-8 guard who is ranked 30th at her position as a prospect according to ESPNW. She averaged 28 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals as a junior in leading her team to a state championship.

“Mystique is an athletic guard who can score at the rim, mid-range and shoot the ball deep,” UA coach Kristy Curry said. “She has the ability to really get up and guard the ball and disrupt passing lanes defensively.”

Rice, who is 5-9, averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds to go with five assists and five steals per game as a prep junior, also winning a state championship. She is ranked 79th overall and and 20 th at per position by ESPNW.

“Destiny is a physical guard with a scorer’s mentality,” Curry said. “She has been well-coached on every level.”

SOFTBALL

Alabama signed its first player during the early signing period Wednesday, adding outfielder Jenna Johnson to next year’s Crimson Tide roster.

Johnson, from Franklin, Tennessee, holds multiple single-season records at Page High School, including a .686 on base percentage in 2018, 11 home runs and a 1.114 slugging percentage in 2017 and 24 stolen bases and a .591 batting average in 2016. She is a two-time all-state and defensive player of the year and was named the All-District MVP in 2017.

SOCCER

Alabama head coach Wes Hart announced the signing of 10 standouts to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. The 2019 freshman class includes, Katarina Baehren, Allie Berk, Macy Clem, AJ Crooks, Carlee Giammona, Serena Pham, Reyna Reyes, Bella Scaturro, Sydney Vincens, and Carly Wyatt.

“We are thrilled with the 2019 recruiting class,” said Wes Hart. “This class is loaded with talent from some of the best clubs throughout the country. Several of them have youth national team experience, including Reyna Reyes, who is playing for Mexico at the U17 World Cup right now. I expect players in this class to step right in and impact the program from day one. The fact that four of them (Reyes, Giammona, Crooks, and Baehren) will be joining us in January is huge. They’ll have all spring to get adjusted to life as a college soccer player.”

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz announced the signing of highly-touted Isabella Harvison of Cardiff-by-the-sea, Calififornia, on Wednesday.

Before moving to Spain, Harvison won both the singles and doubles Southern California regionals and sectionals, and has been ranked No. 1 in doubles and No. 5 in singles in Southern, Calif. Harvison is a USTA national doubles finalist, with a Women’s ITF doubles ranking of 1190.