By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SPRING GARDEN – Spring Garden senior point guard Ace Austin has officially entered into celebrity status.

On Friday morning, at the conclusion of a pep rally for the Panther football team, she entered Dale Welsh Gymnasium on to Ricky Austin Court escorted by none other than University of Alabama mascot Big Al. Moments later, the reigning Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year and Miss Basketball signed a basketball scholarship with the Crimson Tide.

“It was fun (walking out with Big Al),” Ace said. “I think my favorite part was seeing all the support I have when I walked in there. I’m a big kid person, and I love making a kid’s day. I don’t think they realize how much of an impact they have on me. It was fun because I know how much the kids love Big Al, and I was like ‘Maybe when I walk out there, the eyes won’t be on me. They’ll be on Big Al.’ It meant a lot that he was able to be here and be a part of my big day.”

Big Al had competition for attention from the little ones on this day, and from the grown ups as well. Many were adorned with crimson t-shirts that had Alabama’s scripted white ‘A’ that helped spell out Ace’s name. Underneath was the date, Nov. 15, 2024 National Signing Day.

Following speeches by coaches throughout her adolescent career, and her own speech to the crowd assembled in the gym, Ace signed her letter of intent. Joined by members of her family at the table, Ace turned and spoke to her dad, Spring Garden head coach Ricky Austin.

“She’s got the date on everybody’s shirt in the gym, and she turned around and looked at me and said ‘What’s today’s date?’ Coach Austin said, drawing a laugh from the media members assembled at Ace’s press conference in the girls locker room.

For a brief moment, the point guard with nerves of steel was a bit awestruck.

“I was shaking a little bit, so it was a little ugly writing,” Ace said of her signature.

Nevertheless, Ace is now signed, sealed and delivered with head coach Kristy Curry’s Crimson Tide.

“It just means a lot that I get to play for such a great program,” Ace said. “I’m just thankful everybody has pushed me and helped me reach my goals. I’m not done yet.”

Regarding her new head coach, Ace said Curry has built Alabama’s women’s basketball program “tremendously.”

“She treats all of her players like her own child. It’s not always about basketball with them,” Ace said. “It’s family. It’s grit, love and gratitude. They talk about how much love they have for all of them. She’s like a mom. Of course you know she’s going to get on to you. It’s going to be different, but she’s been great to everybody in our whole family. She’s supported every one of us through everything, not just my brothers, but my cousins and my aunts.”

Both Coach Austin and mother Dana Austin feel comfortable with Ace spending her next four years in Tuscaloosa.

“Just like Ace said, there’s so much more to it than just basketball,” Coach Austin said. “She was amazing (through the recruitment process). She even showed up at the state volleyball tournament to support. It’s important. You want your daughter to play in an environment where they feel safe. Obviously Alabama offers that. To know they’re going to nurture you, not just as a player but as a person, that put it over the top. That’s the feel I get with Alabama’s staff. We’re just very thankful for that opportunity.”

“She’s stepping into a program that, to me, is a lot like Spring Garden, as far as the family, the atmosphere that Coach Curry and her staff has developed down there,” said Dana, a Hall of Fame basketball player and former head coach at Jacksonville State. “It is a culture, a good culture. I don’t have one ounce of worry when she leaves Spring Garden going to Alabama because she’s going to be taken care of by a staff that would take care of her as me and Rat would. I trust the staff as much as if I was sending her to my sister’s house to keep her. That’s the way I feel about them.”

Ace verbally committed to the Crimson Tide almost a year ago to the day (Nov. 17, 2023). She did that so it wouldn’t distract her from leading the Lady Panthers to their second straight Class 1A state title last season. Ace averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 3.6 steals per contest In leading the Lady Panthers to a 33-1 record last season.

The Lady Panthers are on the eve of beginning another season, one Ace hopes will result in one more state title for Spring Garden.

“It’s a relief,” Ace said of her signing with the Crimson Tide. “Just like last year when I committed, the process was pretty stressful. It means a lot going to a school that is so well known. I’m just so thankful growing up that I had the support I had through my whole journey. It’s support that couldn’t get any better.”

When asked what she expects going into her freshman year at Alabama, Ace said she just wants “to get better.”

“A freshman year is tough,” she said. “It would be great to play, but you can’t go in there knowing. You’re there to get better. You’ve got other people there. You’re going to be going head-to-head with a spot (on the line). It’s going to be fun. It’ll be good. I’m working for it, hoping to play. I’m not going into it knowing it’s given to me. I’ve got to work for it. I’m just ready to get down there and get to work and get better.”