SPORTS BRIEFS: Three Tide basketball players set to graduate
Ronald Steele will walk across the floor at Coleman Coliseum today, but this time it has nothing to do with basketball.
The former starting point guard for the Alabama men's basketball team is sitting out the 2007-08 season as he recovers from off-season surgery to both knees. That hasn't affected his academic progress, however, and today Ronald Steele will walk across the coliseum stage to receive his bachelor's degree in financial planning.
Ronald Steele's appearance on stage may be surprising to some. The only two-time "Mr. Basketball" in the history of this state was always considered a lock for a career in professional basketball. In fact, before the knee injury derailed his junior season last year, he was considered the nation's top point guard and was expected to bypass his final season to enter the NBA draft.
"I'm just happy I can make my parents proud," Ronald Steele said. "I've worked hard for three and a half years so I'm excited about it. It took a lot of hard work. Coach really pushed me. He's the one who motivated me to do it. I picked financial planning because I've always been good at math. Hopefully I'll be able to make a little bit of money one day and I wanted to know how to handle my own finances. That will help me be able to enjoy life, not having to worry about money."
Ronald Steele will be joined at graduation ceremonies by fellow seniors Mykal Riley and John Dill, renewing an impressive streak held by head coach Mark Gottfried, who has witnessed 20 of 21 seniors receive degrees in the last eight years.
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