Shannon Hale — SF, 6-8, 220
Freshman, 19 years old
Season (22.5 mpg): 8.8 PPG, 3.6 PRG, 1 APG
43% FG, 35% three-point (2.8 attempts)
Hometown: Johnson City, TN
From “Revisiting ‘Under the Radar’ College Freshmen”
*If the videos do not appear, please “refresh” the webpage once
Shannon Hale | Alabama
SF, 6-8, 210
19 years old
Season (22.5 mpg): 8.8 PPG, 3.6 PRG, 1 APG
43% FG, 35% three-point (2.8 attempts)
Trending: Up
Outlook: A 6-8 small forward, Hale is a smooth athlete with a high basketball IQ and natural feel for the game. As a freshman he showcased the ability to shoot 3′s and space the defense. He also showcased the ability to drive the ball with strength and coordination, an aspect of his game that was severely lacking in high school.
Hale can catch-and-shoot from deep, or pick-and-pop. His smooth style is reminiscent of, say, Jared Dudley.
With Trevor Releford and Levi Randolph graduating, Hale should be a focal point Alabama’s offense next season, and eventually he could become the primary scorer on this Alabama team, something nobody expected to happen this quickly. Hale is still a long way away from being an NBA prospect — he’s too lithe and plays a bit too slow on both ends of the floor — but next season he’ll have an opportunity to showcase his development. Let’s see if he can bring it together, in a consistent fashion.
Video
Driving Right
3-Point Shooting
Pick and Pop – Misses
Pick and Pop – Makes
Cutting Misses
From “‘Under the Radar’” College Freshmen
Shannon Hale | Alabama
SF, 6-8, 210
Quick Thoughts: Hale committed to Alabama during his sophomore season and he remains under the radar. The 6-8 small forward is a decent athlete, with a high basketball IQ and natural feel for the game.
He’s a great shooter from the elbows, and is developing into a catch-and-shoot player from 3. His game reminds me of Jared Dudley, though Hale is skinnier and, obviously, less skilled.
How He Fits:
Projected Starting Lineup
F — Nick Jacobs (Jr)
G — Retin Obasohan (So)
G — Levi Randolph (Sr)
G — Rodney Cooper (Jr)
G — Trevor Releford (Sr)
Alabama returns only nine scholarship players, so Hale should get minutes early in the season. But it won’t be easy to make an impact considering Alabama’s returning players are mostly scoring-oriented. Releford used 24% of the available shots when he was on the floor; Cooper 22.2%; Jacobs 20.1%; Obasohan 18.9%; and Randolph 17%.
I predict that Hale won’t have a huge impact this season, but will emerge on the national radar as a sophomore and junior. I’m not sure if Hale has NBA upside, but he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on in the SEC.