This isn’t the first time Alabama basketball coach Nate Oates has looked to the junior college ranks to find pieces for his team in Tuscaloosa.
James Rogas and Keon Ellis, both staples on the Alabama roster in their college careers, have been highly-rated JUCO clients in their classes. Oats is looking to continue the trend with Nick Pringle this season.
The 6-foot-9 forward was a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, and also ranked fifth in the state’s junior college and number one in JUCO power.
The Seabrook, SC producer was originally enrolled in Wofford as a freshman during the 2020-21 season, but saw very limited playing time and was transferred to Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kan.
He was a big part of a team that went 30-5 in 2021-22, and his play earned him a major appearance on the career path. Last season, Pringle averaged 9.2 points per game to go along with an impressive 8.9 rebounds, which is good enough to lead the team. Dodge City also led in the percentage of field goals with 61.8 percent.
Pringle scored 14 double-digit rebounds over the past season and also scored seven doubles.
If it isn’t obvious by his stats, Pringle is a burly striker who weighs in at 220 pounds. His size and strength are what sets his game apart, as his specialty is rebounding and providing a low profile on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ground.
Pringle loves to play over the edge, has the ability to jump and sports to do so with relative ease. He also has a knack for picking up and finishing blisters, as well as getting up after picking passes at the post to throw thunderous pavements.
His best skill at Dodge City has been recovery, which is also the biggest value he can bring to Alabama this season. In addition to his eccentric sportsmanship, Pringle knows how to put himself better on both ends and has a high-effort mentality best demonstrated by his incessant shattering of glass.
The Pringle has long arms that serve as a defender and rim guard. He has great footwork for his size which allows him to stay ahead of an opponent, and his bounce and length are the exact tools needed for him to be an elite edge protector.
The transition from JUCO to a Division-I game will not be easy, but Oats believes Pringle has all the tools to be a successful player in Alabama.
“We think it gives us a different dimension on the front court,” Oates said. “He may be the most versatile and athletic striker in college basketball […] We are looking to add an experienced player to the roster.”
Here are some plays that show how Pringle can contribute to Crimson Tide.
These two plays show two primary ways Pringle is used in Alabama half-court groups.
In the first clip, Pringle performed a standard pick-and-roll toward the basket that should be routine for him in Tuscaloosa. After getting the pass from his teammate, he used a dribble to get close to the basket, then showed off his sport by getting up to throw a dunk.
In the second clip, the ball was on the right wing and Pringle settled near the left block in what is known as the “Dunker” spot. With the opposing defensive running zone, Pringle’s teammate led and found him for an easy pass and finish when the defense collapsed on the ball handler. Against any team managing the zone defense, this would be an offensive position for Pringle.
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The next two stages show Pringle’s versatility and athletic performance apart from his jumping abilities.
The first shows Pringle as a wing defender who has realized that his opponent is losing control of the basketball. He reached out with his long arms to do the robbery, and then, impressively for his size and position, he dribbled the length of the floor and finished with a dip.
In the second clip, Pringle grabbed a defensive rebound and threw a record pass to his goalkeeper. From there he ran towards the edge and cut hard once he got to the three-point line to receive the pass.
Not every big man can run easily, so this is a feather in a pringle cap.
The biggest question marks with Pringle as a possibility are its lack of an outside game as well as translating edge protection against larger, more physical opponents at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
On the plus side, though, his athletic style is undeniable and he has the drive and effort to earn himself a place on the court even if he still needs to polish other aspects of his game.
“I’m going to get a lot of helmets, I already know,” Pringle told BamaCentral in February, referring to the team’s Hard Hat award.
With that mindset and physical traits to go along with it, Pringle is bound to see a meaningful time playing in Tuscaloosa whether it’s this year or in the future, given that he still has three years of eligibility left.
We’ll leave you with a final clip that showcases Pringle’s most eye-catching trait, throwing a power-hugging back lob in the middle of the game:
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