When John Petty made an announcement in late March that he would be testing the NBA waters, many people understood why he would try to go pro as a junior, but they also hoped he would make the decision to return for his senior season.
When Petty had an interview with Charity Chambers of WZDX, he hinted that maybe, just maybe, his time in Tuscaloosa isn’t finished just yet.
He started by explaining what led him to the decision to try to make it pro this year:
“Basically just some good feedback from some NBA scouts, some of my coaches and also just by the year I had — I know I had a great year. I know that in previous years I could have tried it, so this year, I just thought that it would be best if I just tried and put my name in there and see what I get.”
He was asked about his time at Alabama:
“It’s just a great atmosphere down there, the city, everything,” Petty said of playing for the Tide. “The coaches were good last year. It just felt like home. Even though I wasn’t that far from home, I was two hours away, Tuscaloosa felt like a home for me. So, my time there was amazing. Even though the situation I’m in now, my time might not be up there. I’ll probably be up there another year, depending on how everything else goes, but I’m just really trying to finish this semester out the best way I can.”
Let me emphasize this part one more time: “I’ll probably be up there another year, depending on how everything else goes.”
Petty has a lot to consider, especially what his future means for his 2 year old daughter and family who are from Huntsville, Alabama.
Could this mean he is truly considering a return to Tuscaloosa?
Does Petty want to have one more college season to improve his draft stock?
One thing is for sure, he has enjoyed playing for Alabama head coach. He shared how playing for Oats has made him enjoying basketball again.
Petty, who is a junior, has continued to impress each year. This past season, he averaged 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He played in 29 games, starting 28 of them.
Through two seasons, he averaged 10.2 points. His field goal percentage improved as well. He started with a 39.3 percent field goal percentage as a freshman in 2017 and finished this season with a 46.2 percent field goal percentage.
But that’s not all. This season, he led the Crimson Tide in scoring (18.5 ppg.), assists (5.2 apg.), steals (1.8 spg.) minutes (37.6 mpg.) and field goals made (206) and attempted (449). He led the SEC in minutes played and 3-point shooting percentage (.440).
The NBA draft is scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 25, but Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on if that changed due to the coronavirus.
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