New UAB head coach Andy Kennedy picked up the first commitment of his tenure as the head man of the Blazers, as 2020 Huntsville (AL) Mae Jemison guard Tony Toney made his pledge to the program late on Saturday night.

It took Kennedy just eight days to make a splash on the recruiting trail by landing Toney, one of the top prospects in Alabama's 2020 class. Even through the mandated quarantine, the unsigned senior could not pass up the opportunity to suit up and play for the Blazers. Toney landed a scholarship offer from Kennedy earlier in the week and didn't need any longer to make his decision.

"I wanted to stay in a decent radius from home so my family could come to my games," Toney told HoopSeen.com following his commitment. "I feel like it will be a great environment educationally and athletically, too."

Toney, an athletic 6-foot-2 combo guard, was a terror for opposing teams and players during his senior campaign with his combination of size, strength, and athleticism. While his three-point shooting needs to become more consistent, there is no denying that Toney has the ability to be a three-level scorer. Toney was one of the top prospects at the inaugural AHSAA Elite 100 camp last June, where he caught the eye of several college coaches in attendance. 

There may not be a better fit in Alabama's 2020 class for UAB than Toney. With his toughness and grit, Toney is an ideal Andy Kennedy-type prospect and the type of player that thrived under his tutelage in recent stops at Cincinnati and Ole Miss. It's the perfect fit for both parties involved.

During his senior season, Toney averaged 17 points and seven rebounds for Mae Jemison, a team that was regarded as one of the top teams in the state.

Toney joins in-state prospect and Montgomery (AL) Jeff Davis standout Rongie Gordon to make up the Blazers' current two-man recruiting class. Gordon and Toney are rated as the No. 2 and No. 3 overall prospects in the 2020 HoopSeen Alabama state rankings.

Gordon signed with UAB under former head coach Rob Ehsan in November. The 6-foot-7 forward is still weighing his options and trying to decide if he will honor his commitment to the Blazers under a new regime or if he will request a release from his Letter of Intent and re-open his recruitment.