OPINION

By Mike DeCourcy

updated 8:28 p.m. ET July 28, 2008

Mike DeCourcy

He knew exactly what was coming, and still it struck him with the force of an elbow to the sternum. JaMychal Green watched the NBA draft long enough to hear the words, "Richard Hendrix, forward, University of Alabama," spoken from the podium, and with them, his role for his freshman season with the Crimson Tide changed profoundly.

"The coaches called me and they asked me, Was I ready?" Green says. "I told them I'm ready to step up." Alabama has not been to the NCAA Tournament since Ronald Steele was Ronald Steele -- before a series of knee injuries rendered him diminished (2006-07) and redshirted (2007-08). Alabama is not going back unless Steele again is a high-level point guard.

But without Green to stabilize the Tide frontcourt, even a resurgence by Steele to All-American form probably would not return Alabama basketball to relevance and eliminate the premature (but, these days, inevitable) speculation regarding coach Mark Gottfried's job security.

And thus Green will enter the season as the most important freshman in Division I. He probably won't be the best, and he certainly won't be the flashiest. Green is a 6-9, 225-pound power forward with a lot of energy, but he's no high flier. With Hendrix deciding three years of college hoops and an Alabama degree were enough, though, Green became the essential figure in the Tide frontcourt.

"He plays really hard, very active, has got quick feet," Gottfried says. "He's one of those guys when the ball is up on the backboard, he's going after it every time. He wants to win. He's been a part of a lot of winning, so he's used to that."

As a McDonald's All American at Montgomery's St. Jude, Green -- call him J-Mike -- was the star of two state championship teams. From the first day of practice July 1 until the gold medal game of the U-18 FIBA Americas Championship nearly three weeks later, he was the best frontcourt player for the United States' junior national team.

On a team that went 4-1 and lost a road game to Argentina for the championship, Green tied for second in scoring and was first in rebounding and blocks. Given that he was limited to about 16 minutes a game because of foul trouble and the coaches' desire to keep players fresh, his averages in those categories were amazing: 11.0, 8.4, 2.2.

Even more astounding was his 72.4 percent shooting, which suggested he a) knows exactly what shots he can make and b) could have afforded to launch a few more.

He is more of a stick-back guy than a polished, back-to-the-basket low-post scorer, but he regularly finishes plays because of his tenacity. Alabama will need him to rank among the SEC's top rebounders, and he probably will.

"I like the physical aspect of the game," Green says. "I like to bang. I'll bring energy. I'll set the tempo. And I'll make open shots when they need me to." Green chose Alabama because he wanted to attend college close to home. He'd rather be somewhere else, though, in March of his freshman year.

MORE FROM COLLEGE BASKETBALL

College basketball Section Front

Michigan shocks No. 4 UCLA in 2K Classic Strong 2nd half propels Duke to NIT semis Good Knight! Texas Tech scores 167 in win Beyond the Arc: Upset AND a shootout? Great night Cardinals ready to roar behind freshmen big men Hansbrough, Curry head our All-America team Expert: Heels must beware in holiday tourney 3 Hall of Fame coaches receive inaugural awards No. 1 Connecticut women crush San Diego State Men’s preview: Final Four picks, stats, more College basketball Section Front   Add College basketball headlines to your news reader: