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Alabama lands four-star forward Braxton Key

2014 adidas Nations

(Kelly Kline/adidas)

Kelly Kline/adidas

Having already landed one of the top players in the Class of 2016 in guard Terrance Ferguson, Alabama reeled in another highly regarded recruit Wednesday afternoon.

Four-star forward Braxton Key, who attended Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville for three seasons before transferring to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year, announced Wednesday that he will play his college basketball for Avery Johnson. Key, who formerly went by Braxton Blackwell, is Alabama’s third verbal commitment in the class to date with College of Southern Idaho wing Ar’Mond Davis joining he and Ferguson.

News of Key’s commitment was first reported by The Tennessean.

The 6-foot-8 Key’s versatility is one of his most highly regarded traits, as he can be used to help facilitate the action offensively. Key played his grassroots basketball for the Atlanta Celtics program alongside prospects such as Michigan State commit Josh Langford and five-star guard Kobi Simmons.

Among the other programs to offer Key were Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas and Florida.

With Key on board and Ferguson before him, Johnson is working to amass the talent needed to improve the program’s standing within the SEC. While the Crimson Tide don’t currently have a senior in their front court, with Shannon Hale, Michael Kessens and Jimmie Taylor all being juniors (as is Memphis transfer Nick King), the addition of Key gives them versatility that the front court rotation previously lacked.