Former Tide signee has new home

Alfy Hill was all set to play for Alabama.

He not only signed with the Tide last February, but enrolled in classes in Tuscaloosa during the summer and briefly participated in preseason practice.

Then things hit a major snag.

The NCAA Clearinghouse red-flagged an online course the four-star prospect from Shallotte (N.C.) West Brunswick took in high school and ultimately decided not to accept that course, which rendered him a non-qualifier. When Hill couldn't stay at Alabama, he briefly enrolled at East Carolina, but he decided after three weeks there the school "didn't have what I need."

Now, five months after leaving Tuscaloosa, Hill has a new home.

Last week, he enrolled at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi, where the 6-foot-5, 270-pounder, who was an Under Armour All-American last year, hopes to get his grades in order, play one season, then ink with a major college program.

"I came here to get my grades right," Hill said. "I really don't know where I'll end up. I'm just taking it one day at a time."

According to Hill, he has kept in touch with Tide assistant coach Sal Sunseri, his primary recruiter at Alabama. Hill said that during a recent conversation he was informed the Tide still has a place for him if he wants it.

"I talked to Coach Sal two or three weeks ago," Hill said. "He told me if I wanted to come back, I could. He told me to make the best decision for myself."

Alabama apparently isn't the only program interested.

"Right now, there are a bunch of schools if I keep my grades right," Hill said. "Clemson, N.C. State, Tennessee, Ole Miss. I feel like I'm still a D-I player."

While Hill, who said he stayed in shape last fall by working out every day at his high school, is glad to have a fresh start, the entire experience admittedly was a bit humbling.

"It hit me hard," Hill said. "I got a lot of questions about it. I wasn't embarrassed about it. People would ask me a lot about what happened and I got tired of hearing about it. But the more people asked me about it, the more that got me motivated. I've got to make it. I'm going to do what I can."