As expected, Lawrence Kinnard, the No. 74 ranked player in the Rivals150, has given a commitment to the UAB Blazers. The 6-foot-6, 186-pound small forward from Raleigh-Egypt High School in Memphis, Tenn., decided to forego his scheduled visits, two of which were with SEC schools, and commit to the school that had recruited him the longest.

“I talked with my coaches and parents tonight, and we decided it would be best to go ahead and commit to UAB,” said Kinnard. “I called [Assistant] Coach Scott Edgar and told him my decision.

“UAB had been in there the longest. They had been recruiting me since the ninth grade, and that was a big plus for me. The other schools came in later.”

Besides the fact the UAB had been recruiting Kinnard for so long, Kinnard also is impressed with the coaching staff and the Blazer’s style of play.

“I have a lot of respect for Coach Anderson and Coach Edgar,” he said. “I also like the way they play. I should fit in good. They are losing people at my position, so I should get some minutes playing the three and two.”

Kinnard chose the Blazers over Arkansas State and SEC schools Ole Miss and Auburn.

“The conference of the schools didn’t mean anything to me,” he said. “I was looking for the right style of play and a quality coaching staff. That is what I found at UAB.”

The long, athletic Kinnard has the ability to get up and down the floor and the emerging skill set to fit in perfectly in UAB’s pressing and fastbreaking system.