Just as predicted on the Paul Finebaum Radio Show four weeks ago, Ronald Steele has decided to see if his game is ready for the NBA. It is. Point guards are hard to find. Great points are even harder to find. Steele is the best point guard in the NCAA right now. He is the best shooter on the Alabama team and that includes Mykal Riley. He is the heart of the program.

Ronald Steele has the skill of Mo Williams and the intelligence of Bob Cousey. None of that means that Steele will go. Same for Richard. Neither has one thing left to prove to the NBA. As much as both players love the Capstone they have a bigger responsibility to themselves and to their families. As Alabama fans we must support their move to see where they stand. I know Mark Gottfried will do so even if he is throwing up as he does so.

What's Bama's future without the pair?

Where would Bama be without Steele and Hendrix? Let's put it this way – they'd be Auburn with less talent. With strong rumors of two other players considering transfers it is clear that things aren't going well in Tuscaloosa. Mark has stunningly failed to recruit any inside players in the sophomore class. If Rico Pickett and Torrance are the answer at point guard, I'd love to hear exactly what the question was. Pickett might mature into a decent player. Torrance is a decent kid and player who is jerked around more than the voting public. He starts a few games then sits a few. He is my runner up for "what the heck is going on here" award. Glenn Tubbs is the winner however.

If Steele and Hendrix leave for greener pastures Alabama is in trouble. And Mark gets to say for three more years - (1) We are young. (2) We've had some bad luck with guys leaving for the League. I'd substitute "escape" is a better word. For the last two years all we have heard was "wait until Steele returns".

If these two players leave the Tide's once feared program that was already on the brink, how far will they plummet. Dante would say it would be in the lower depths of Hell. Players like Avery Jukes, who is now at Butler, might have helped the Tide. Butler is not 'Bama though. Unfortunately, Bama is not Butler. I hope all this stuff makes an impression on those who hang on to Mark Gottfried like a good luck charm. Bama is two players away from embarrassment. Actually, they were pretty embarrassing at times last year, but they righted the ship to become competitive. Bama is two players away from becoming the worst team in the SEC for a long time. I told Paul Finebaum it might take a decade to rebound. How long has it taken the football team to even find hope much less rebound?

I've known about the Steele deal for five months. So my predicting it would happen was a little disingenuous. Okay, are you ready for the next big news? Don't be surprised if Alonzo Gee gives it a shot as well. What would he have to lose? All three will be playing at a higher level soon. My head tells me that Steele's move is more of a "what do I have to do" to become a first round draft pick, and more than likely will return. The same could be said for Hendrix, although his chances of going are much higher.

If Steele and Hendrix return it could be a banner year…

If both return 'Bama will be okay next season. After that use your own common sense. If Bama is not going to fire Gottfried and he isn't given a public pat on the back in the form of an extension, this program is toast. Recruiting would be dead. If Phillip Pearson gets the Jax State job recruiting might die anyway. You hate to see Phillip leave because he has been valuable as a recruiter and he is a better coach than some would like to believe. Antoine Pettway wants to come back to Bama. I have no idea of what kind of coach or recruiter he would be. The term "great" spins through my brain however. Can a program survive the loss of two key players and the chief recruiter? Some could. Alabama can't. You cannot blame the players for wanting to know. If either was my son I'd advise him to give it the old college try in the NBA tryouts. This is one time you can come home again. Good luck to both players and perhaps a third. Good luck to Phillip Pearson who is due his own gig. The man can charm pigeons out of a park. What would the outcry be if all this happens? Perhaps the players will return and a winter of discontent can be avoided. It's a shame that Bama wasn't better prepared for two great players leaving. It wasn't as if you couldn't foresee the possibility.