Alabama Basketball Newcomer Breakdown: Jarin Stevenson
This is the sixth in a multi-part series where BamaCentral's Blake Byler will crunch the numbers and break down the film to give you everything you need to know about each of Alabama basketball's newcomers.
Kira Lewis Jr., Josh Primo, now Jarin Stevenson. What do these three players have in common? They all reclassified when they committed to Alabama, skipping their senior years of high school.
For the first two, it worked out quite well.
A native of Pittsboro, North Carolina, Stevenson grew up in the shadows of the Dean E. Smith Center and was a Tar Heel legacy, but he ultimately chose to come play for Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide instead of the blue blood a few miles down the road.
As a junior at Seaforth High School, Stevenson was outstanding, averaging 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while adding 3.7 blocks per game on the defensive end. His efforts made him nationally recognizable, and he was named the Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year at season's end.
Stevenson was originally a member of the Class of 2024, and an elite one, at that. He was a consensus 5-star and was ranked in the top-20 by virtually all recruiting services. After reclassifying to 2023 to join Alabama for this upcoming season, Stevenson now ranks as a high-4-star on the majority of services.
The most glaring attribute Stevenson brings to Alabama is his size and length. He is one of three additions to the frontcourt that was left incredibly thin after multiple departures to the NBA, and at 6-foot-10, he is listed as the second-tallest player on the roster.
Stevenson's frame and measurements bear a striking resemblance to Noah Clowney, a fellow 6-foot-10 forward who was a one-and-done for the Crimson Tide last season. Stevenson boasts a very similar body type, with a long wingspan denoted by lanky arms that cover plenty of ground when outstretched.
He needs to add a little weight, currently being listed at just 200 pounds, but the area Stevenson can make the most immediate impact is on the defensive end. There is a chance to earn playing time promptly with center Charles Bediako off to the NBA along with Clowney, along with the defensive level of the current frontcourt being an uncertainty.
Stevenson's potential as an interior defender is seen clearly in the two above clips. In the first, Stevenson's teammate carelessly turns the ball over, leaving Stevenson as the furthest defender back in a 2-on-1 fast break.
Stevenson sprints back to the lane and stops the ball, forcing a pass, where he then showcases his ability to stay vertical and block the shot. His mechanics are disciplined, he doesn't recklessly swat at the ball or the player, which would pick up an easy foul. He jumps vertically, using his reach to erase the shot and grab the rebound.
In the second clip Stevenson is already in great position thanks to the zone his team is playing, but again, he shows his timing and anticipation as a shot blocker by staying vertical and not overusing his body as a means of defending.
Stevenson has the length to not only clog passing lanes, but also bother a wide variety of shots around the rim, and his excellent body control is translatable to the college game. While he may not guard many "5's" in the SEC due to his weight, he has the versatility and mobility to guard bigger wings on the perimeter while also serving as a help-side shot-blocking threat.
Stevenson also has a fair amount of offensive skill to his game, and while he can't handle the ball at the level of a guard, or even a forward like Nelson, he is more than comfortable bringing the ball up the floor and pushing the break off his own rebound.
The above two plays show Stevenson's direct two-way value. After altering a shot into a miss on the first clip, he grabs the rebound and pushes the break himself. He hits a cutting teammate with a nice bounce pass, but his teammate misses the layup.
Stevenson didn't give up on the play after the pass, he kept his pursuit towards the rim, grabbed the offensive rebound, and cleaned up the miss with a putback.
The second clip shows yet another block on the interior, which Stevenson then rebounds and dribbles up the floor through traffic. He's not bothered by the tight defense around halfcourt, and he exhibits fantastic body control as he euro steps around the final defender in the lane to finish the coast-to-coast trip with a bucket.
Stevenson's mobility is a commodity at his size, and the versatility he shows on both ends is valued highly in Oats' system that isn't just reliant on a high-powered offense, but also a long, stout defense.
As seen in the layup at the end of his second transition clip, Stevenson has great touch as a finisher around the basket. The following plays demonstrate that even more.
On a simple baseline out of bounds play in the first clip, Stevenson works around a screen and catches the pass around the dunker spot. He immediately rises up for a quick post hook that drops in with ease.
The second clip shows Stevenson working the middle of the floor on a press break, catching the ball around midcourt and attacking the rim with force. He gets his defender on his left hip, then plants his foot and executes and effective spin move, finishing with his left hand.
Stevenson has the touch to be able to finish around the rim from a variety of angles and with both hands. His arsenal extends beyond the paint as well, boasting a very capable 3-point shot. He's not necessarily a sharp shooter, but again drawing comparisons to Clowney, has a respectable enough shot where defender's can't leave him wide open, helping space the floor and open the lane for driving.
As far as the role Stevenson will play this upcoming season, there are lots of question marks about how the frontcourt rotation will shake out. Nick Pringle is the only returning player in the group, and he's not even guaranteed a starting role after playing a very limited role last year.
Stevenson has the length, the rebounding, and the two-way versatility to both compete for, and win a starting job for Oats and the Crimson Tide this year. Can he follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Primo and become the next reclassified player from Alabama to make the NBA? He certainly has the potential.
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