Collin Sexton declares for NBA draft
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Young Bull has officially gone to market. Alabama freshman point guard Collin Sexton announced his decision Friday to declare for this year's NBA Draft, ending his college career after one season.
BamaInsider.com broke the news of Sexton’s decision to leave for the NBA Draft on Wednesday night. He becomes the first Alabama player to depart for the NBA after just one season since the league added the “one-and-done” rule in 2006.
Sexton said he made the decision to leave for the NBA shortly after the season. However, he wanted to make sure to talk with his family and coaches before making the move official.
“Making the decision was big,” Sexton said. “At first I had to talk to my family and the coaching staff to see what was best for me moving forward on to next year. … Growing up you always want to make it to the NBA, that’s everybody’s goal.”
Announcing his decision inside of the Naylor Stone Media Room in the Mal Moore Athletic Facility, an emotional Sexton called his team up to the podium before announcing his intentions to declare for the draft. Sexton said he originally broke the news to the team on Monday.
“Everybody was very excited,” Sexton said. “I felt the love in the room and they knew what was best for me moving forward.”
Sexton, who earned SEC co-Freshman of the Year honors last season, led Alabama averaging 19.2 points and 3.6 assists per game. He is expected to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft on June 21 and is projected to go No. 9 overall to the New York Knicks, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft.
The last Alabama player to be selected in the draft was Richard Hendrix, who went No. 49 overall in the second round to the Golden State Warriors in 2008. The Crimson Tide’s highest-ever selection was Antonio McDyess, who was picked No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1995.
Sexton said he is honored to be associated with those players and hopes he will be remembered for his hard work at Alabama. As for his place in Crimson Tide history, head coach Avery Johnson believes Sexton has already earned his place among the program’s best.
“Absolutely I would think he’s at the top,” Johnson said. “Obviously it’s just one year, but if you look at one year and what he’s meant to Alabama basketball I think he would be at the top. When you’re SEC co-Freshman of the year, this kid almost single-handily one a game when we were playing three against five. It’s pretty amazing.
Sexton set Alabama’s freshman scoring record, finishing with 632 total points on the year. The previous mark was set by James “Hollywood” Robinson, who scored 554 points during the Tide's 1990-91 season. Sexton is just the fourth player in school history to score 630 or more points.
Sexton broke the record for made free throws in a season in school history with 196. He also has the Alabama freshman single-game scoring record with 40 points against Minnesota on Nov. 25, a game his finished as one of three Crimson Tide players remaining on the court. He became the first Alabama player to score 40 or more points in a game since Reggie King had 43 against Virginia in 1979.
Sexton was the first Alabama freshman in the modern era to record three straight games of more than 20 points in each of his first three contests. He scored 20 points or more 16 times, including five of his final six games.
Now the former five-star is looking to bring that production to the NBA. Sexton says he is working twice a day in the gym and in the weight room trying to get his body right for the next level. He was recently seen working with Alabama football players in a video posted by head strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran.
Sexton feels he can benefit from the added open space of the NBA game and stated he’s looking to become a good shooter on the wings. He likened his game to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. According to Johnson, who has 16 years coaching experience in the NBA, that’s a fair comparison.
“I went to a game last week at the Final Four [in San Antonio] and the Spurs played Oklahoma,” Johnson said. “My wife and I looked at each other and we said ‘Collin can play in this game.’ His style of play, his speed translates to the NBA. … I’ve said all along, out of all the guys that I’ve coached and played against in the league, he was arguably the fastest guy I’ve seen with and without the basketball.”
While Sexton has not yet hired an agent he said he is “going through the process” of doing so. As long as he doesn’t hire an agent, he has the opportunity to withdraw from the draft until June 11. However, that doesn’t appear likely.
Although Sexton plans to leave the Alabama basketball team, he isn’t completely done with the university. The 4.0 student said he still plans on taking classes to finish out his degree.
“It’s very important getting a degree because both my sister and my brother both have degrees, so I feel like I have to get mine. I can’t be left out,” Sexton said with a smile. “I’ve got to be on the wall where my parents put plaques up. I got to be there too.”
At this rate, it looks like the Mableton, Ga., native will have plenty more achievements in his bright future.