Through the ups and downs, Archbishop Wood’s Jalil Bethea has remained committed at Alabama
While the sophomore guard hasn’t seen the floor much this season, his former coach believes his work ethic will prevail — as it did in high school. For now, Bethea will experience the Sweet 16.
In his 13 years as the Archbishop Wood High boys’ basketball coach, John Mosco has witnessed some of the most talented players to come through the Philadelphia Catholic League.
Among the most successful athletes that Mosco has coached, he said, is Jalil Bethea, a 2024 graduate who was ranked sixth nationally and was a McDonald’s All American. On Friday, the sophomore guard will join Alabama (25-9) in an NCAA Sweet 16 game against Michigan (33-3) in Chicago (7:35 p.m., TBS).
“He’s very talented and he puts in the work that people don’t see,” Mosco said. “He’s always in the gym, working on his craft, working on his game, so his work ethic is really what helped him succeed. It’s been great for the [current] team to see success when they leave Archbishop Wood.”
Mosco has stayed in touch with Bethea through the highs and lows of his college journey, which started at Miami before he transferred last offseason to the Crimson Tide. His former coach reached out to Bethea before Alabama’s March Madness run to offer words of encouragement.
Bethea suffered a broken foot during preseason practice in September. The injury required surgery and has limited his minutes on the court this season.
The guard is averaging 8.4 minutes and 4 points in 25 games. He made his debut on Dec. 3, playing six minutes in a win over Clemson. He followed that up with a season-high 21-point performance on Dec. 7, as Alabama routed Texas-San Antonio, 97-55.
Working through adversity
Mosco believes Bethea’s work ethic will prevail to broaden his role at Alabama. The coach saw him do it in high school.
“When Jalil came to Archbishop Wood, he didn’t play his freshman year, and then he came off the bench for varsity his sophomore year,” Mosco said. “He just kept working hard in the gym to get better. He went from not being ranked to being a McDonald’s All American his senior year.”
» READ MORE: Archbishop Wood’s Jalil Bethea is a national recruit who’s ‘more than a basketball player’ | From 2024
Bethea was a two-time Catholic League MVP in 2023 and 2024 and named the state’s player of the year as a senior. The 6-foot-5 guard was considered a five-star recruit.
He began his college career at Miami, but a disappointing season for the Hurricanes (7-24) led to the midseason resignation of coach Jim Larrañaga and Bethea decided to transfer at the end of the season.
Basketball tradition
Bethea joins the list of former Archbishop Wood players to have college and professional careers.
Collin Gillespie, who plays for the Phoenix Suns, and Rahsool Diggins, a guard for the Grand Rapids Gold in the G League, represent the Vikings in the professional ranks. Mosco said those two have maintained strong relationships with the school and often return in the summer to train and talk with current players.
Many of the players look up to Bethea and are wishing him success in his first March Madness run, the coach said.
“I’ve been fortunate to coach a lot of great players that did well in college,” Mosco said. “So, whenever you see them play, it doesn’t matter if it’s the NCAA Tournament or just a regular game, you get excited for them and you’re happy for them and their families.”