Loretto basketball combo guard Karly Weathers commits to Alabama

Joseph Spears
Nashville Tennessean

Karly Weathers knows where she's going once her high school basketball career is done.

Weathers, a 5-foot-11 combo guard, announced Thursday on Twitter that she has committed to Alabama.

Weathers led Loretto to its first state championship since 1958 and also was named the school's first Miss Basketball winner after averaging 22.4 points per game. 

Holding several Division I offers from schools like Florida State, Georgia Tech and Missouri, Weathers said that she narrowed the top three choices to Alabama, Belmont and Indiana.

"Alabama was the the first Power Five school to offer me and I think that their coaching staff is full of great people," Weathers said. "My mom told me 'When you're making the decision, you have to think about if basketball were to be taken from you and you weren't able to play anymore, would you still go that university?' Alabama is definitely that for me."

Weathers also played with Alabama coach Kristy Curry's daughter during her first two years of AAU basketball starting in fifth grade. 

"I've been keeping up with them since I was in seventh grade and I think that Coach Curry is moving them forward in a very positive direction," Weathers said. "I can't wait to be a part of it." 

Weathers is the daughter of former major league pitcher David Weathers and Belmont hall of fame basketball player Kelli Weathers.

Her older brother Ryan was the 2018 Tennessee Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and selected eighth in the 2018 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. 

Loretto coach Ashley Rutledge said that Alabama is getting a player that is "the real deal" and can make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. 

"We are so excited for her," Rutledge said. "I've gotten to know a lot of coaches and there were a lot of great schools going after her but the Alabama coaches are fantastic. They're great coaches but also just really good people that make everyone feel like family.

"We're just excited for her and excited for their program because she's a huge pick up for them. I think everyone is going to see her name consistently in the SEC for four years."

Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com or 731-343-4923. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7.