2019 NBA Mock Draft: There’s movement in the top 5
. G. Virginia Tech. Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 14. player. 86
Few in the country have taken a bigger sophomore leap than Alexander-Walker, cousin to the Clippers’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who stayed at Virginia Tech for a second season despite getting first-round buzz last summer. The 20-year-old combo guard has taken the reigns of the Hokies’ offense and helped turn it into the third-most efficient in the country.
Coach Buzz Williams’ system is tailor-made to attack zone defenses, with a point guard in Justin Robinson who takes care of the ball and decides who is allowed to shoot and when. He does so by simply tossing that player the ball and most often this year it’s been Alexander-Walker on the finishing end of a slash and kick set. Alexander-Walker is scoring 22.5 points per 40 minutes, up from 16.8 last season. He has an unfathomable 65.3 true shooting percentage and is even tossing 6.6 assists per 40 for Virginia Tech as well.
Monday night in Durham against the Tar Heels, despite a Hokies loss, Alexander-Walker made the most of his minutes. If not for his foul trouble, Virginia Tech is probably closer in this game. Alexander-Walker scored 19 points on 14 shots, nailing his first four 3-pointers to create an early lead for the Hokies.
Nickel Alexander-Walker is an incredible shooter, but I’ve liked how his jumper has gotten a little more versatile this year. Nails this one off the bounce with most of the Hokies’ starters on the bench. He’s been more of a go-to scorer for them this year. pic.twitter.com/b49lorLGGS
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) January 22, 2019
But it’s not just Alexander-Walker. Every player on the Virginia Tech roster has the green light. Putting the ball in the hands of Alexander-Walker, who has the size to finish against big men and over the top of guards, will be the key for Virginia Tech to make a run this year and uncover the true ceiling for their sophomore star.