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Sunday Pulpit: Collin Sexton will make Alabama basketball fun again

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McDonald's All-American guard Collin Sexton (10) dunks during the McDonald's High School All-American Powerade Jamfest at the Keating Sports Center at Illinois Institute of Technology. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
McDonald's All-American guard Collin Sexton (10) dunks during the McDonald's High School All-American Powerade Jamfest at the Keating Sports Center at Illinois Institute of Technology. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
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Welcome to Alabama, Collin Sexton.

Then again, a better introduction might read: Welcome Alabama fans to the wild and mesmerizing excitement the five-star point guard can provide on any given night. After all, he’s what’s going to be different around here anyway.

On paper, Sexton’s eight points and seven assists during Wednesday night’s McDonalds All-American Game were just that — eight points and seven assists on 3 of 10 shooting over 23 minutes. However, describing the way Sexton distributed the ball through his legs, around his back and off the glass through numbers would be akin to calling Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” a painting of the sky.

Take nothing away from any player on Alabama’s team last season, which finished 19-15, 10-8 in the SEC and, despite frustrating inconsistencies, often punched above its weight. There just wasn’t much of this happening inside Coleman Coliseum.

The hype around Sexton, the No. 7 player in the 2017 class, generated long before the 6-foot-3, 175-pound point guard signed with the Crimson Tide in November. Although it might never have been as high as it is now.

* McDonald's All-American Game: Monday practice standouts

Sexton’s big week began on Monday as he was reported to be one of the biggest standouts during practice for the McDonalds All-American game in Chicago. Tuesday, he put on a show, winning the event’s slam dunk competition on a powerful 360-degree windmill jam.

Then came Wednesday night’s game. Sexton brought the crowd to its feet when he jumped in front of an outlet pass before flipping the ball between his legs to an East teammate for a score. He then upstaged that performance just before the half, leaving his feet to deliver a behind-the-back, left-handed, alley-oop in what was perhaps the top play of the night.

Those highlights will have to satiate Alabama basketball fans for the next seven months until the Tide brings in the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class to Tuscaloosa. Sexton will lead that class, along with Mr. Alabama, John Petty, the nation’s No. 28 overall player.

The hope among Alabama fans is that Sexton will prove to be the piece the Tide was missing last season, as it averaged just 68.5 points per game. The incoming freshman is expected to be a one-and-done player, as many project him to be a high pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. That will be alright with Tide fans, assuming he takes Alabama to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

* Alabama commit Collin Sexton has high expectations for next year

While certainly attainable, those are all steep expectations. Alabama’s last first-round pick was Gerald Wallace, who was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. Despite sharing Sexton’s high-flying athleticism, Wallace averaged 9.8 points and 6 rebounds while failing to lead the Tide to the NCAA Tournament during his lone season at Alabama.

Having the nation’s top player is not a guarantee for success. LSU finished a disappointing 19-14 (11-7) during the 2015-16 season despite having last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons, on its roster.

That being said, it’s hard to watch Sexton’s performance last week and not foresee a change in fortune for the Tide next season. Despite its many flaws, Alabama finished two victories in the SEC Tournament from clinching a spot in the “Big Dance” this year. Watching Kentucky freshman De’Aaron Fox explode for 28 points in a 79-74 victory over Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals, it’s easy to wonder what that game would have been like with Sexton suiting up for the Tide.

How far could Sexton have carried last year’s team? After all, Alabama beat South Carolina, a Final Four team, in both meetings last season. The Gamecocks’ success is perhaps the best indicator as to how close the Tide has come toward becoming true contenders. Is Sexton the player to finally push Alabama over the hump?

We’ll have to wait and see about that. The true freshman still has plenty of room for improvement if he wants to carry his success to the next level. However, if last week proved anything, it’s that basketball in Tuscaloosa just became a lot more interesting.

Buckle up Alabama, it’s going to be an exciting ride.

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