Steele Still Deciding his Future

Contrary to an ESPN report over the weekend, Alabama junior point guard Ronald Steele has still not made up his mind regarding the NBA Draft. Head coach Mark Gottfried told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that Steele had decided to return to the Crimson Tide for his senior season. However, Steele said Gottfried misunderstood the conversation they had on Saturday. "It was a mix-up," Steele told ESPN.com. "I can work out until the 16th, and a number of teams have called so I'm going to take those workouts and then make a decision." Steele said he has workouts scheduled right before the June 16 withdrawal deadline, and has been told that several teams are interested in him. "I'm still in," Steele said. "I haven't withdrawn yet. I'm going to make a good decision and Orlando provided me with the opportunity to play with the best players, and I think I did fairly well and showed all of my skill set."

Comments from Steele's mother and father to various newspapers in Alabama immediately after the ESPN report made it clear that their son had not yet completely made up his mind. "He has up until the 16th (of June) to make a decision," Ronald Steele Sr. told the Birmingham News. "He hasn't made one yet." "It's still in the air," he also told the Mobile Press-Register. "He's going to keep his name in the hat and do a series of workouts before he makes a decision." Apparently, Steele did tell Gottfried that he was returning to the Crimson Tide, but later changed his mind after discussing it further with his father. "(Gottfried) talked with Ron (Saturday) night, and Ron told him he was coming back," Steele St. told the Birmingham News. "Then after we talked, we told him he had a little more time. Might as well explore it a little bit more, get a little more experience. After we talked, he retracted that statement."

Steele was one of three Alabama players to enter their names in the NBA Draft without signing an agent. Alonzo Gee has already announced his return, while Richard Hendrix has yet to make a decision. Steele missed all of last season after undergoing knee surgery, and was bothered his junior year by nagging knee injuries. During his last injury-free campaign, which was his sophomore season in 2005-2006, Steele averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.