2018 NBA Mock Draft: Trae Young could reset the Kings backcourt
22. player. 89. . G/F. Arizona. Rawle Alkins
During the ESPN broadcast of Saturday’s Arizona-USC game, color analyst Bill Walton said something interesting:
“When Rawle plays well, the Wildcats win.”
It’s true, and it’s a testament to those pillars of player development that can be harder to quantify, like the impact a player’s skill set or ability to lead has on their team. One thing that stands out immediately watching Alkins is his basketball intelligence. He has great driving footwork, able to split double teams and dribble through pressing defense. And he makes the open pass even running downhill. That, to me, looks like NBA-level tertiary ball-handling ability, and a piece of what Walton is getting at when he praises Alkins.
Oddly enough, the Wildcats are actually worse on both ends when he is on the floor, despite Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier creating a massively positive impact on the team’s efficiency. Those numbers in college are even harder to trust than in the NBA, however.