Rawle Alkins will return to Arizona after testing NBA Draft waters
May 21, 2017, 2:56 PM | Updated: 3:00 pm
Rawle Alkins, from Arizona, loosens up during the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Rawle Alkins will return to Arizona for his sophomore season after testing the waters in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The guard, who went to NBA Draft Combine, made the announcement on Twitter.
Story is not over yet, still have some unfinished business to take care of💯 🙏🏿 SAVAGELIFE pic.twitter.com/eOBwEYLdL6
— Rawle Alkins (@Iam_RawleAlkins) May 21, 2017
As a freshman, Alkins averaged 10.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 46 percent overall and 37 percent from three-point range.
Alkins performed well in 5-on-5 play at the NBA Draft Combine that ran from May 9-14 and measured well in athletic testing, but standing at 6-foot-4, he was small for a small forward and not skilled enough to play shooting guard.
The position concerns led NBA executives to unanimously tell ESPN’s Jeff Goodman that Alkins should return to school.
Underclassmen who declared for the draft had 10 days after the end of the combine to pull their names out of consideration and return to school.
Lauri Markkanen, Kobi Simmons and Chance Comanche will be the only Arizona players leaving school early for the draft after Allonzo Trier and Alkins decided to return.
The news likely hurts the Wildcats on the recruiting front, where 5-star wing Brian Bowen and Pittsburgh transfer Cam Johnson were awaiting word on Alkins’ decision while considering heading to Arizona.
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