When nine of your 12 scholarship players are new within a program and only one player from the new

head coach's former team followed that coach to the new place, well, familiarity won't be

flowing, especially at this early juncture of the year. Now, Vlad Golden is pretty handily

in my mind, the most familiar piece in this program to Dusty May, to several members of his staff.

If you had to consider the second most familiar piece, a much more open discussion, I'd argue it's Sam Walters.

Dusty knew about Sam before the latter entered high school.

As May was laying the foundation for what turned out to be a remarkable run at Florida, Atlantic,

Walters was an impressive player in the state of Florida.

One of the first college coaches to discuss that next level,

and his potential fit with Walters was indeed Dusty May.

Now, Walters ultimately selected Alabama out of high school,

which afforded him the opportunity to experience a final four run last year. Though Walters was far

from the Mark Sears of the Crimson Tide world in terms of minutes and production, Walters

wasn't just bench fodder either. He made a real impact off the bench as a true freshman

on Alabama's most successful men's basketball team ever. Yet, Walters at the end of the season,

decided to make a change, and he entered the portal. Now, we all know that each portal story

and decision and process very unique.

But obviously not every departure is cordial.

Walters very much was, so much so that Alabama staff was really willing to help Walters find the right fit.

And because familiarity exists between Dusty May and that staff down in Tuscaloosa,

plus May's past knowledge of

Walters, it allowed the process once Walters entered the portal to really hit the turbo

...