Avery Johnson caps class with 4-star SG John Petty

HUNTSVILLE -- The University of Alabama men's basketball program pulled off perhaps the greatest recruiting daily double in program history on Thursday as John Petty, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Huntsville and the state's No. 1 prospect committed to the Crimson Tide at Mae Jemison High School on Thursday night.

"I want to thank God, my family, the college coaches who recruited me. And Roll Tide," Petty said in making his announcement at halftime of his game.

Petty had narrowed his choices to Alabama and Kentucky last month before choosing the Crimson Tide.

He announced his decision by giving his mother a bouquet of flowers and then pulling an Alabama had out of the bouquet.

"I made my decision about two days ago," he said after the game. "It was very close. But I prayed about it, talked to my parents about it and this felt right. It's a good feeling.

"My goals are to win a state championship this year, then get to Bama and get ready to play."

Petty should be able to make a quick impact at UA.

"John Petty is one of those guys who I feel can be pretty much as good as he wants to be," said Eric Bossi, the national basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com said on Thursday. "He's got great size for a two guard, he shoots it well and he can put it on the floor a bit. He's not an overwhelming athlete, but he's good enough and after a college weight room, he's going to be a really strong two guard. At the same time, he's the one who limits himself the most by going through stretches where he kind of floats or seems somewhat disinterested.

"At the end of the day, the tools to be a smashing success at Alabama are all at Petty's fingertips. I'm sure Avery Johnson and his staff are excited to motivate and teach him on a daily basis."

Alabama landed 5-star point guard Collin Sexton, the nation's No. 7 player, earlier in the day.