This recruiting cycle, much of the buzz for Alabama basketball has been where the Crimson Tide stands in the race for Caleb Holt. The focus on the nation's top guard has drawn some attention away from other UA targets, including Jaxon Richardson, the latest commit to the program's 2026 class.After a message board post by Joe Tipton in which the On3 insider said "Alabama did not make Richardson much of a priority" as the cycle progressed, Jason Richardson a 14-year NBA veteran and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion cleared up the narrative surrounding his son.On Thursday, March 5, Jason posted the following to X:"This is a really bad take when you have no idea about the relationship between the Alabama coaching staff and my family."TIDE IN NBA: Alabama basketball's Nate Oats reacts to Grant Nelson getting NBA shotREQUIRED READING: Four-star recruit with NBA ties picks Alabama basketball | 3 things to knowRichardson said that Creighton, who a recruiting site falsely reported to have won Jaxon's commitment earlier on Thursday, "did an amazing job" recruiting Jaxon. Yet, it was the family's relationship with assistant coach Preston Murphy that ultimately swung the Richardsons to Tuscaloosa.Offering to provide Tipton "some background you clearly dont have insight on," Richardson said Murphy was "the reason" he wore the No. 32 in high school."He was one of the best players to ever come out of our hometown of Saginaw. In fact, my freshman year I chose to attend the same high school because he went there," Richardson wrote.Richardson noted that Murphy and Alabama coach Nate Oats once recruited his older son, Jase, and began building a relationship "very early" with Jaxon starting in 2023.@JoeTipton This is a really bad take when you have no idea about the relationship between the Alabama coaching staff and my family.Although Creighton did an amazing job at recruiting Jaxon, Let me give you some background you clearly dont have insight on. The reason I wore #32 pic.twitter.com/VNApBcMmdT Jason Richardson (@jrich23) March 5, 2026"Most recently, when Jaxon was hospitalized with the flu in January, Nate Oats was calling my wife Jackie and texting me every day checking in on him. So when you talk about priority, understand this first, this decision wasnt based on a moment its built on a 30+ year relationship between Preston and me, plus an almost four year recruiting relationship with Jaxon," Richardson continued."Thats more than enough for Jaxon to know he was a priority."The addition of Richardson gives the Crimson Tide the No. 9 recruiting class in the country. Alabama also signed 5-star Qayden Samuels at the end of January and 4-star Tarris Bouie earlier in the season. All three are small forwards.Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball commit's father denies claim that son wasn't 'priority'