Alabama Basketball: Easy Business Decision for Collin Sexton
By Ronald Moody
Alabama basketball player Collin Sexton will announce his intentions on whether to stay in school or turn pro on Friday. Alabama basketball is poised for a deep tournament run if he decides to stay in school.
Alabama basketball has scheduled a press conference at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 6th at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility.
The time has come for an answer. Will Sexton stay or depart for the riches of the NBA?
The proverbial point guard has the opportunity to become Alabama’s highest draft pick since power forward Antonio McDyess was taken by the Los Angeles Clippers second overall in the 1995 NBA draft. The latest NBA mock draft per Sports Illustrated has Sexton as the second guard drafted and taken twelfth to the Clippers.
Depending on how well the ballyhooed guard does in pre-draft workouts, he could easily surpass Oklahoma Sooner’s Trae Young and become the first guard taken in the draft.
If drafted with the eighth pick by the Bulls, his rookie salary would be $3,394,800. If drafted twelfth overall by the Clippers as the latest mock draft suggests, his salary would be $2,675,700.
The Mableton, Georgia megastar was an explosive player that Alabama basketball and its fans had not witnessed in Tuscaloosa since James “Hollywood” Robinson. The slender six-foot-two shooting guard averaged 20.6 ppg, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists during his junior season. After that stellar season, he declared for the NBA draft and was drafted 21st by the Portland Trailblazers.
Sexton came and shattered all expectations. His play more than lived up to the hype of coach Avery Johnson’s slogan ‘Buckle up.’
Buckled Up!
Six-foot-three true freshman point guard Sexton racked up numerous accolades for being named an honorable mention All-American, SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-SEC. Collin averaged 19.2 points per game shooting 45 percent from the field. Sexton finished second on the team in three-point percentage shooting at a 34 percent clip. The point guard also led the team in assists with a 3.6 average. In late November, he scored a career-high 40 points against Minnesota in the crazed game where the Tide had to play three on five in the last ten minutes of the game.
Collin Sexton led the Tide into the NCAA tournament after many critics declared the team on the bubble with a 19-15 record. His length of the court last-second scoop and score against Texas A&M will live in Alabama history. The star freshman had 27 points in that opening round and followed up with 31 points in the monumental upset against the SEC’s number one seed Auburn Tigers. Against Kentucky, he scored 21 points for a team record 79 points in the SEC tourney. Also, Sexton surpassed James Robinson’s single-season scoring record as a freshman with 590 points passing Robinson’s 554.
Should he stay or go?
Collin is enjoying being a student as he rocks a 4.0 GPA and refuses to use social media. Is that enough to make him return for a sophomore season? If Sexton decides to return to Tuscaloosa, it is because he wants to continue growing as a student and become a better player and person. In an interview with ESPN2 when discussing returning next season, Sexton said:
"Learning more, becoming better and becoming an all-around player, whether that’s on offense or defense. And just like leading the team because freshman year, I had to come in and lead pretty fast. So, when you’re in your second year, you already know what’s going to happen."
If he decides to come back, it will not be a wise economic decision on his part. His stock is bullish right now. The nation was able to observe his greatness in the SEC tournament and NCAA tournament.
Avery Johnson’s prized pupil will flourish in the NBA. His extravagant play and swagger put you in the mind of last season’s NBA MVP Russell Westbrook. He can put his head down and drive to the basket and score. Knocks on his play will be how can he involve his teammates more and cut down on the turnovers.
Next: 5 Reasons the Tide Repeats in '18
If Collin decides to stay, Alabama starts the season in the top half of the Top 25. Johnson’s young team will have grown from their tournament experience.