Top 2022 Point Guard Jaden Bradley Announces College Decision

Bradley was down to five finalists, including Arizona, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Florida State and Alabama.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama basketball received its first commitment of the 2022 cycle this afternoon, as point guard Jaden Bradley announced his decision to join the Crimson Tide on ESPN. 

Out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Bradley chose Alabama over four other finalists, Kentucky, Arizona, Gonzaga and Florida State.

"There was a lot of tough choices. Alabama just seemed like the place for me," Bradley told Paul Biancardi via Instagram live. "Their style of play was good [as well as] their family atmosphere."

The senior point guard cut his list of finalists earlier this year, and he visited Tuscaloosa and coach Nate Oats and staff the weekend of June 11. 

Other recruiting stops included Michigan, Florida State, North Carolina and Kentucky, among others, but it was the Crimson Tide who sealed his pledge today and added the first name to its 2022 class.

"Nate Oats is a great guy. [He is] fun to be around off the court and laughs and jokes," he said. "But when it's on the court he's very serious. He's serious about his point guards and develops them well."

It was a relatively quiet process for Bradley, who kept recruiting experts unsure of his decision until recently. The IMG product, in fact, was predicted to pick either Arizona, North Carolina or Kentucky, as Alabama's efforts and momentum weren't made public after his visit this summer.

"We don't have a one-year plan. We've got a two-year plan, or however long it takes to get to the next level," Bradley said. "But we're just going to focus on being in college at the moment, playing and getting my game better and working on my weaknesses."

Meanwhile, what's next for Alabama basketball is also significant, as Bradley is expected to join priority current teammate and Crimson Tide target Jarace Walker, a top-rated 2022 forward, on his official visit to the Capstone.

Following Bradley's commitment, Alabama remains in the hunt for both Walker and fellow 2022 forward Brandon Miller, who visited campus last weekend and attended the Crimson Tide's home football game against Southern Miss with Oats and staff.