TUSCALOOSA, AL — Head Coach Ismael Bledsoe is about to find out who he’s been able to lure to campus as his third recruiting class since being awarded the job at the conclusion of Season 103 of League 42. After landing a well-ranked class of recruits in his first batch, last season he worked on securing some big men and had mediocre results. This third class placed an even higher priority on filling out the forward ranks and indications are that it will be more successful. And yet, sources tell us that the one player the program is fixated on is a guard.

Nathaniel Toler plays high school ball in Tacoma, Washington. He was a late addition to the Tuscaloosa program’s targets, largely due to the focus on big men. But as the season has progressed it has come to appear Toler is a late bloomer with a lot of attributes the program favors and is too good of a fit to not bring in.

The program has prioritized their recruits such that he’s coming to town.

“We have two big men we’re in competition with other programs on, and those two are our top priority to sign. But even if we get them both, then the third recruit will be Nathaniel,” Bledsoe told this reporter. “If we get one or neither of those bigs, we will get Toler as well as two other forwards we feel comfortable we can land.”

Notably, Bledsoe also feels that in a worst case scenario, both of the fall-back forwards they have would comprise a better duo that what they brought in last season.

As for Toler, he has a scoring touch and ability to distribute the ball to teammates. He plays defense, too. Even one skill the scouting consensus says he lacks, rebounding, his totals are perfectly adequate. And he’ll be a guard anyway, even though he plays small forward for his high school team.

“We think the rebounding thing is an example of his winning nature. Technique wise, maybe the scouts think he can’t do it, but he competes and gets to balls anyway,” said recruiting coordinator and assistant coach Tyler Monday.

As to why it’s set in stone he’d be a guard for the Druids, it seems a decision has been made that Nolan Conaty is a small forward all the way. He and Taylon Smith are the jewels of the first class Bledsoe brought in. Smith is also locked at point guard, so Toler will play shooting guard.

He will in theory get some competition for the starting role from current freshman Michael O’Brien, but the position is his to lose, as O’Brien has looked like a solid reserve who would probably be overextended as a starter.

Saturday is a big day for the program. We will know the complexion of nest season’s roster before lunch.