LOS ANGELES – Jarin Stevenson could still be at Seaforth High School in North Carolina.
It's a fact that had Alabama basketball's Mark Sears shaking his head Saturday night after the Crimson Tide's 89-82 win against Clemson in the NCAA Tournament , a victory that puts the Crimson Tide in the Final Four for the first time in program history.
"At times, we forget that he's supposed to be in high school," Sears said of Stevenson, an 18-year-old freshman who reclassified ahead of the 2023-24 season to join Alabama.
"But he definitely didn't look like he was supposed to be in high school tonight."
After combining for nine points in the first three games of March Madness, Stevenson had a career-high 19 points – including five threes – for the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide (25-11) in a breakout performance at Crypto.com Arena.
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"I feel like I made the right decision," Stevenson said with a wide grin. "Happy to be here. I feel like I'm getting better here."
He missed his first two shots from long range against the sixth-seeded Tigers (24-12) but made five of his next six to turn the tide for Alabama.
It was, Sears said, a "phenomenal" and "timely" performance.
"I just know whenever I'm given the opportunity, I'm there to step up," Stevenson said.
"There's still some things I need to work on in my game – being more aggressive, having more of a sense of urgency and I need to be more consistent. I'm glad that I stepped up this game."
So is Alabama coach Nate Oats, who heaped praise on Stevenson as the latest Crimson Tide player to step up in the tournament.
"I mean, Jarin, shoot: season high in the biggest game of his life, hit big shot after big shot, made tough play after tough play," Oats said. "He grew up tonight. Shoot, 19 points on 11 shots is pretty efficient basketball. Super proud of Jarin."
Following the final buzzer, Stevenson was among the first players to cut down a piece of the net. As he waited for his turn, he studied the process. His only other net-cutting experience happened when he was a youngster in the arms of his father, Jarod, after an international championship.
Now, the could-be high-schooler is bound for Phoenix with the chance to win a national championship.
"It's crazy," Jarin Stevenson said. "First year here … first time this school has been in the Final Four. It's a crazy feeling."
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jarin Stevenson shines in Alabama basketball's March Madness win
