CBS Sports: Arizona’s Alkins among prospects who can shine at combine
May 12, 2018, 7:32 AM
FILE - In this March 1, 2018, file photo, Arizona guard Rawle Alkins (1) drives on Stanford's Kezie Okpala during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
In recent years, the NBA Draft Combine has begun to provide an opportunity for lesser-known prospects to shine.
Arizona wing Rawle Alkins is a familiar name to most after a strong freshman season, and as a sophomore likely earned even more attention because of his teammate Deandre Ayton.
Injuries, however, didn’t allow Alkins to take the expected leap in 2017-18, and he failed to create much buzz as a lock for the second round. He could do so at the combine.
CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander noted six players who could use the event to solidify their draft stock during the NBA Combine, and Alkins is one of them.
If you put up the numbers Alkins did and are considered an underachiever, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Alkins’ athleticism is going to get him drafted, I think. He’ll shine in that regard at the combine, and his drill work could separate him from a lot of prospects in that 45-70 range. Arizona was led last season by Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier, so Alkins was somewhat overlooked. He’s got the ability to go from fringe pick to surefire second-rounder if he aces the combine.
As it turns out, Alkins actually did well for himself at last year’s combine when he tested the waters.
In the 5-on-5 play, Alkins showed off his ability to handle the ball and run a pick-and-roll, scoring 18 points in one of the games.
Despite performing as well as he possibly could have, Alkins must not have liked what he heard on where he could potentially be drafted because he returned to school.
Alkins will have to prove his size is not a major detriment, as he measured at 6-foot-4 at last year’s combine, making him very undersized for a wing.
Alkins battled injuries but in 2017-18 averaged 13.1 points, 2.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. The 220-pound guard shot 43.2 percent and 35.9 percent from three-point range as a sophomore.
