Tarrant Trades Tulane for Tide

It looks like it's official, Tide fans. Pleasant Grove's own Ricky Tarrant will wear crimson, although he's going to have to sit and wait a year before we actually get to see him play. We now have at least a partial answer to the question of who will replace Trevor Releford after the upcoming season.

Tarrant is certainly not an unknown commodity. After leading the Spartans to the state semifinals his senior year, he was named the 2011 Birmingham News Metro Basketball Player of the Year. His best performance was a 47-point regional win over Russell County as he shot 26 of 29 from the free throw line.

Of course, Alabama basketball fans most likely remember him most for leading the Green Wave to their 53-50 upset of Alabama in Coleman Coliseum back in December. Tarrant only scored five points as the Crimson Tide defense focused on getting the ball out of his hands. Unfortunately for a lackluster Alabama squad , he dished out four assists versus only one turnover as he helped a couple of his teammates put up big numbers and walk away with the win. Tarrant played 37 minutes of that game.

Last season, Tarrant averaged 15.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. The Green Wave posted 20 wins, and Ricky Tarrant was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year. He will be a welcome addition to the Alabama basketball program at a key position, and a position of need for Anthony Grant's team after Releford departs.

In short, Tarrant's transfer is a big get for Alabama. Roll Tide.