Alabama Basketball Commitment Analysis: Jared Butler

Analysis

Jared Butler is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound combo guard from Riverside Academy in Reserve, La. He is a very explosive scoring guard that is an efficient passer as well. He works extremely well in a pick-and-roll offense where he has multiple options to decide on.

National Take: More from Eric Bossi of Rivals.com

His decision making is one of his strengths, along with his elite scoring ability. Jared Butler reminds me of Collin Sexton when he made his rapid rise to stardom. Maybe not to that extent, but he went from a three-star guard with very few offers to a potential top 100 player with multiple power 5 offers.

WATCH: Collin Sexton highlights at Alabama

The commitment came down to:

Jared Butler essentially was deciding between Alabama, Virginia, Texas, and Baylor. Alabama and Virginia were the top two, but Baylor came on as a late darkhorse. Alabama offered Butler back in May and quickly visited a month later.

That visit really opened the eyes of Butler and instantly sparked a relationship with Coach Avery and Coach Pettway. Butler has always had high interest in playing in the ACC, which is why Virginia was a major threat to Alabama. However, in the end the relationship with Coach Avery and his NBA background was what ultimately landed Butler.

Where does Butler fit into Alabama's program?

- Jared Butler has always been deemed as the potential replacement for Collin Sexton, who is expected to turn pro after this upcoming season. In my opinion, he is the perfect replacement for Sexton and a great partner for Tevin Mack. Butler is a great ball screen guard who has the ability to penetrate and collapse the defense. He is a very shifty guard with above-average ball skills and scoring ability. Sound familiar? He and Mack will be a force in the backcourt for years to come.

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Who to keep an eye on in the 2018 class:

Javian Fleming and Robert Woodard have been the top two remaining targets Alabama has been involved with the most. Diante Wood is one to watch for Alabama if one of Fleming or Woodard players decides to go elsewhere. Alabama also recently offered Anfernee Simmons, a five-star guard who recently decommitted from Louisville.

National Take: More from Eric Bossi of Rivals.com

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