By Gary Lloyd
The Fab Five was all the talk in 1991, about a handful of basketball recruits who chose to play at Michigan.
Hewitt-Trussville rising senior guard Jarvis Calhoun wants a Fab Five at UAB in 2014, the school to which he is committed to play.
The 6-foot-1, 155-pound Calhoun was the first Class of 2014 recruit to make his pledge to UAB, verbally committing to the Blazers in March. Calhoun, who averaged 25 points, three assists and two rebounds per game as a junior, had offers from Murray State, Georgia, Georgia State, Tennessee Tech and Samford. Hazel Green’s Lewis Sullivan, a 6-foot-7 rising senior forward, was the second Class of 2014 prospect to commit to UAB, choosing the Blazers earlier this week.
It’s part of the Fab Five plan, and Calhoun wants to craft together the recruiting class like a well-maneuvered three-point play.
“I think they are pretty big commitments because I think we both can shoot the ball well outside and can attack people off the dribble,” Calhoun said of himself and Sullivan. “With our commitments, it can pull other recruits in by us committing early.”
Calhoun named Wenonah standout point guard Justin Coleman, Albertville sharpshooter Riley Norris and Dallas County four-star forward William Lee as top prospects in the state who hold UAB offers that he’d like to see become a part of Blazer Nation.
“I definitely see a rise in UAB because coach (Jerod) Haase and his staff has done a great job recruiting, and I’m looking forward to the future of UAB basketball,” Calhoun said. “The Fab Five talk is about getting all the top players in Alabama and getting them together to go to one school, and I think we have a chance to do that.”
Haase was named UAB’s head coach in March 2012. The Blazers posted a 16-17 record in his first season.
Calhoun, who has scored 1,650 points in his Hewitt-Trussville career, said UAB plays the fast-paced style he likes.
“I think everybody likes the style of play because we like to get out in transition quick and attack the rim,” he said. “I see a major change in UAB’s program future and I’m looking forward to it.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.