Alabama Basketball 2017 Recruiting: Collin Sexton Breakdown
By Jake Ingram
After a promising first season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson is really starting to make noise on the recruiting trail.
After a promising first season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson is really starting to make noise on the recruiting trail. With the commitments from PG Collin Sexton and SG John Petty, the former NBA star has secured what is likely the best recruiting class in the school history.
While the 2016-2017 season is still young, it’s hard not to look ahead to the stellar 2017 class. Beginning this week, we will take an in-depth look at each individual player in the Crimson Tide’s 2017 class – starting with the highest-ranked player in the draft.
Collin Sexton, PG/SG, #10 overall player in ESPN 100, Mableton, GA
Strengths:
There may be no recruit in the nation that will fill a bigger void than the one Collin Sexton will when he arrives in Tuscaloosa next fall. The 2016 version of the Crimson Tide, much like previous seasons, lacks players that can create offense on their own. This is apparent when the pace of games are slowed into a half court setting. Without playmakers, Bama has to work so hard to manufacture points in the half court.
This should change when Sexton arrives. The 6-foot-3 PG/SG out of Georgia possesses the type of athleticism and scoring ability that should translate to instant offense at the college level. The versatile guard is a fiery competitor with elite quickness and a lightning-fast first step who has shown the ability to get to the rim at will. But Sexton isn’t just a driver, as he shoots the ball well from 3 and off the dribble, another area in which the Tide lacks.
Weaknesses:
While Sexton is seemingly able to get to the rim at will, he sometimes struggles to finish. Also, he surprisingly doesn’t seem to play above the rim as much as his size and athleticism might suggest.
Sexton will also need to decrease his turnovers and improve his shot selection at the college level. Because of his elite athleticism, he sometimes tries to do too much. He can get away with it at the high school level, but will need to improve in this area as it will lead to turnovers against better competition. While Sexton is far from being an unwilling passer, he could also stand to improve in this area to meet his full potential.
Projection:
Collin Sexton has the type of talent to change a program. Sexton will likely be a starter the moment he walks on campus. Sexton’s game should mesh well with Alabama’s current PG Dazon Ingram, as both players have the ability to play multiple positions. Ingram is more of a distributor, which should bode well for Sexton with his explosive scoring ability.
Alabama basketball fans have every right to be excited about the arrival of Collin Sexton, but they shouldn’t expect to see him in crimson for all four years. Sexton will likely end the Crimson Tide’s NBA draft drought, possibly after just one year in college.