The Rico Pickett situation grows more complicated...
Posted by Ian R. Rapoport -- Birmingham News April 08, 2008 8:48 AM
Categories: Basketball
Alabama coach Mark Gottfried and All-American point guard Ronald Steele are scheduled to meet with reporters in a few hours to discuss Ron's decision to test the NBA draft waters. He's already made the choice to enter the draft (and not sign with an agent), but now he'll tell us why. And that'll be interesting.
Picketing!
But maybe they'll both shed some more light on this odd Rico Pickett situation, too. Because man, it has gotten a little dicey. We found out yesterday Pickett intends to transfer. This comes a day after being suspended by Gottfried. Here is why (from today's article):
According to a source, Pickett missed or was late to several academic responsibilities, then would not complete the punishment Gottfried assigned him.
I'm told the issue was not grades, specifically. While he'll need to continue to work to maintain his academic eligibility, he's not ineligible right now. Instead, it's meeting academic appointments and other team-related functions that has been the problem. And this is not the first time it's been an issue.
Alabama coaches have dealt with it all season. And it's not like he's a bad guy, committing crimes and whatnot. Just doesn't always do what he has to do. But with a ton of potential, Pickett's talent made handling it worth it, they thought. And the thing is, a lot of freshmen, who come in with a ton of hype, find themselves in the same situation. They want to be the star and get upset when they aren't.
Chuck Davis, for one, was incredibly immature as a freshman, and some wondered if transferring wouldn't be the best option. Instead, the light went on and he had a great, All-SEC career.
Will it be the same for Pickett? I'm told coaches would not be against taking him back, provided he completes his assigned punishment and agrees to begin following the rules.
Anyway, on Monday morning, Rico Pickett Sr., sounded off about the UA basketball team. And it wasn't pretty. He alleged, essentially, a conspiracy. He said that Pickett's suspension was only announced because the coaches learned he wanted to transfer. A source disputed that to me, telling me that Pickett only said he would transfer after he missed that final punishment session.
This morning in The Decatur Daily, the younger Rico Pickett finally spoke.
"Nothing possibly that Coach Gottfried can talk about that can make me come back," Pickett told the paper.
I'll let you know if we hear more about it today...