Alabama freshman guard Collin Sexton announced he will leave school early and enter the 2018 NBA Draft. The SEC Co-Freshman of the Year averaged 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game with the Crimson Tide.
“Growing up, you always wanted to make it to the NBA,” Sexton said. “The goal is to make it to the NBA.”
Sexton said he has not hired an agent, but plans to later in the process.
He is projected to be a lottery pick by most media outlets, with some having him going in the top 10. He will likely be one of the first two point guards taken off of the board along with Oklahoma’s Trae Young. Many have the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers as possible landing spots for Sexton.
Sexton said he models his game after current and past NBA stars like Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Allen Iverson.
His coach, former NBA player Avery Johnson, believes his style translates well to the current play of the NBA. He said the comparisons to Westbrook were justified.
“I think in some of his individual workouts, he’s going to blow a lot of these general managers, presidents and coaches away,” Johnson said. “I went to a game last week at the final four, and the Spurs played against Oklahoma (City Thunder). My wife and I looked at each other and said, ‘Collin can play in this game.'”
If selected, Sexton will be the first Alabama player taken in the NBA Draft since Richard Hendrix was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft.
Sexton said that honor is something that means a lot to him.
“It’s big, because just imagine all of those players that came before you,” Sexton said. “Since then, that’s a long list that (has) really good players. Being able to be selected in the draft, that’s big.”
This season, Sexton exploded on the scene by scoring 40 points in a loss against Minnesota- a game where Alabama had to play three vs. five because of the rest of the team was kicked out of the game.
Later in the year, Sexton took the postseason by storm, scoring 27, 31 and 21 points in three SEC Tournament games to basically will Alabama into an NCAA Tournament bid. In the NCAA Tournament, Sexton scored 25 and 21 points in as Alabama won its first NCAA Tournament since 2006 before being knocked out by eventual national champion Villanova.
Sexton earned Newcomer of the Year and first-team honors from the Associated Press for his efforts. He was a second-team selection by the offices of the SEC.
“I’m going to bring confidence, leadership and a will to win,” Sexton said when asked what he brings to an NBA team. “On the court as well as off the court, I’m going to do everything that’s right and lead by example.”
Sexton broke the Alabama freshman scoring record during his one year, previously held by James “Hollywood” Robinson. Sexton finished with 632 points total.
