Jerry Tipton on UK basketball

Alabama guard Ronald Steele announced on Tuesday that he will enter his name in the 2008 NBA draft. He will not hire an agent so he can keep open the option of playing for Alabama next season.

Steele was one of the Southeastern Conference’s best guards. However, a series of injuries hobbled him in 2006-07 and forced him to sit out last season as a medical redshirt.

Here’s the news release from Alabama:

Alabama point guard Ronald Steele officially announced on Tuesday that he will explore his options by submitting his name into the 2008 NBA Draft, though he has no plans to hire an agent and is leaving the option open to return to the Alabama team.

“I want to thank all of you for your attendance today, and I especially want to thank Coach (Mark) Gottfried and his staff for the support and guidance of my career,” the redshirt senior from Birmingham said in a prepared statement to media gathered in Coleman Coliseum. “Today I am formally announcing my intention to enter the 2008 NBA Draft. I will not hire an agent or do anything to jeopardize my eligibility here at Alabama. Every underclassman has one chance to explore an NBA Draft without risking their NCAA eligibility. This is my time to do so.

“This decision may come as a surprise to some,” continued Steele who had his coach, Mark Gottfried sitting by his side in the front of the room. “While I did not participate in any games this year, I did practice fully with the team. Since January I have felt as good physically as at any time during my career. I also believe my basketball skill has never been better. It is my hope that the NBA will invite me to the NBA Pre-Draft camp. If they do, I plan to attend and use it to show NBA staff that I am a healthier, better playing than I have ever been. After attending the camp, I will sit down with my parents and Alabama coaches and review the information from the NBA teams. Again, to be clear, I intend to keep all my options open, including playing at the University of Alabama next season. I support the coaching staff and know that they are supporting me through the process.”

Tide head coach Mark Gottfried says he supports his point guard in his decision and his ability to make smart choices now and later in the process.

“I’m going to support him 100 percent. He knows that,” said Gottfried of Steele’s decision. “I think what you have to remember in Ron’s situation, that he’s had a difficult year-and-a-half. It’s been hard for him. And right now he feels great. I’ve talked to people in the NBA about how well he practiced and physically as he got in condition and there was no issue at all with his knees, he started looking great. So he feels good right now. I support him. I’ve visited with his family. I think that Ron and his family will go about this as well as you can. He’s got a great support system with his mother and father, and we’ll just learn in the future here in the next few weeks exactly those steps that can happen.”