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Collin Sexton – 6’3″ Point Guard, Alabama, 19 Years Old
After a successful freshman season at the University of Alabama, Collin Sexton will be headed to the 2018 NBA Draft. Sexton led the Crimson Tide to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2012. The Crimson Tide were eliminated in the second round by the National Champion Villanova Wildcats. Sexton has been a very highly touted prospect since high school, where he was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2017.
In his freshman year at Alabama, Sexton boasted an impressive stat line. He averaged just under 20 points, four assists, and four rebounds per game. Sexton also accumulated his share of achievements in his short time in college. He was named the Freshman of the Year in the SEC and was also named to the Second-team All-SEC. Sexton is a dynamic guard with great quickness and a good mid-range jump shot. With less than two weeks until the draft, Collin Sexton has proved himself to be a great asset to his future NBA team, and he should fall somewhere in the lottery.
Strengths
Sexton is known for his quickness in the open court and his ability to finish in transition opportunities. He is a good jumper and relies on his explosiveness to get around defenders. Sexton doesn’t require a good screen setter to get into the paint. He is a volume scorer who takes most of his shots near the rim. He can finish shots with either hand at the rim and is very capable of attacking from either side.
Collin Sexton is a reliable mid-range shooter and can create his own shot off the dribble. He also is a tough player and doesn’t shy away from contact at any point on the court. Sexton is a fierce competitor and a hard-worker. He’s dedicated lots of his pre-draft workout time to his outside shot and has shown improvement. With a 6’6.5″ wingspan, Sexton is also a quality defender with active hands which allowed him to play the passing lanes and get steals in college. In his short stint at Alabama, Sexton also proved to NBA teams that he is a great leader. He carried an inferior Alabama team to the NCAA tournament and scored 25 points in the first round in a win over Virginia Tech.
Weaknesses
Sexton was very streaky from deep in his only college season, shooting just 33 percent from three-point range. He certainly has room to improve his range and consistency from beyond the three-point line. Sexton sometimes takes contested shots early in possessions which leads to more scoring opportunities for opposing teams. He’s also very turnover prone at times, and he sometimes drives wildly into the paint. Sexton averaged 2.8 turnovers per game last season.
Due to his very average size and frame compared to other NBA guards, Sexton would most likely only be able to guard one position effectively in the NBA. He’s not the greatest passer in the draft, though he does have the potential to become a more pure point guard. He oftentimes goes for the flashier play rather than making a simple pass. Sexton could also improve his game by not forcing his way into the paint so often, which leads to most of his turnovers.
NBA Player Comparison
Collin Sexton’s game is very similar to that of Eric Bledsoe of the Milwaukee Bucks. Sexton and Bledsoe both score the vast majority of their points within the paint. Both point guards are known to be very physical and have the ability to go around defenders by themselves and finish through contact at the rim. Neither player is much of a perimeter shooter, but they do possess a concern for defenders if they’re left open. Sexton’s abilities stack up well with Bledsoe’s because both of them are able to penetrate defenses using elite slashing skills to make it all the way to the rim.
Almost a lock to become a lottery pick this year, expect Sexton to fall in the range of 8-12 in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. Sexton has been rumored to be targeted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Whichever team ends up with Sexton will be getting a phenomenal scorer and a vocal leader. Sexton will be expected to become the floor general for his first NBA team.
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