Spring Garden girls basketball standout Ace Austin commits to Alabama women's basketball

Spring Garden girls basketball standout Ace Austin will be staying in state after announcing her commitment to Alabama on Friday night.

"I am grateful and honored to say that I am committing to play basketball at the University of Alabama," Austin's statement read. "I am so thankful that God has given me this opportunity! I want to say thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, teachers, friends and the entire Spring Garden community who has supported me throughout this journey. I am so thankful that Coach Curry and the entire coaching staff has given this opportunity to be a part of the Bama family! ROLL TIDE!"

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Austin scored more than 2,000 points last year while leading the Panthers to the Class 1A girls basketball state title, the second of her career. She has been a part of the varsity squad since seventh grade. She was also a major reason the Panthers brought home the Class 1A volleyball title this month. Spring Garden has not yet started its 2023-24 girls basketball season.

There's no secret how heavily the Crimson Tide have been recruiting Austin, as coach Kristy Curry was seen at the volleyball state tournament. Austin is a four-star point guard according to ESPN and is the 53rd-rated prospect in the 2025 class. Austin is listed at 5-foot-6.

The Crimson Tide is coming off its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons and the only two appearances of the Curry era.

Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Spring Garden girls basketball PG Ace Austin commits to Alabama