Chris Beard’s hiring has brought ups and downs in the recruiting world less than a week into his tenure.
On the positive side, Texas is in position to be a huge player in the transfer portal. Top prospects from the 2022 class have expressed interest in spending their college days in Austin as well.
However, the negatives have been more impactful thus far. Two 2021 recruits, Tamar Bates and David Joplin, have requested a release from their letter of intent. Decisions from Emarion Ellis and Keeyan Itejere are pending.
On Tuesday, another blow came, even if Beard was not fully involved in the recruitment.
Four-star center Charles Bediako committed to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas. The 6-11, 215-pound center was one of the top uncommitted 2021 prospects left on the board.
Next Chapter 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/CtsQQx1lR5
— Charles A. Bediako (@CBediako) April 6, 2021
On the 247Sports composite, Bediako ranks as the No. 26 overall prospect and the No. 4 center in the country. The famous IMG Academy is where Bediako attended high school after originally being from Canada. He ranks as the No. 5 player in the state of Florida.
Bediako will be joining an Alabama program that is rolling under head coach Nate Oats. In his second season, the former Buffalo man had the Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16, losing to eventual Final Four participants UCLA. The addition of Bediako will see Alabama ranked inside the preseason top 10.
Five-star point guard J.D. Davidson and four-star Jusuan Holt will also be heading to Tuscaloosa as high schoolers, while the No. 2 junior college player in the country, Langston Wilson, is also in the class. Combine them together, and Alabama has the No. 3 class (what is this, football?) on the 247Sports composite.
