They have an ex-NBA player and coach, Avery Johnson, as the 'Bama HC. He played in the NBA for 16 seasons and has 7 years as an NBA head coach with a .577 winning percentage and took a team to the NBA finals. He has also been an announcer for ESPN. He knows basketball. Especially the NBA game. If Ferguson wants to play in the league, playing for Avery and Bama is a decent choice. I'm sure he is hoping to be one-and-done.
Also, Ferguson knows both Avery's from AAU ball in the Dallas area.