Arizona Basketball: Rawle Alkins is a sleeper in the 2018 NBA Draft

Rawle Alkins just completed his NBA Draft tour across the country and back several times working out for many teams as the NBA Draft nears.

Arizona Basketball is ready to put some more posters on their walls of drafted players. Rawle Alkins will be one of those Arizona Wildcats NBA players. Wherever he goes in the 2018 NBA Draft, Alkins is ready to prove his worth. I predict he is one of the sleepers in this Draft.

Does the general media really know what they are talking about? This year I promise I will take that top mock drafts and compare them to what actually happened. Alkins says he doesn’t pay much attention to the mock drafts, which is healthy.

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I just want to understand how being a standout in the NBA Combine, twice, doesn’t get teams excited about his potential? Why would the media keep slotting in Alkins in the second round? It’s so confusing and everything thinks they know what they’re talking about.

Here’s a point Alkins made: What guard blocks the ball five times in an NBA Combine scrimmage? “I looked it up, and the last time anyone had five blocks in a Combine game, that was a center in 2014,” said Alkins. That’s what NBA teams are usually drafting for is potential. And Alkins feels he can contribute immediately, “I feel like some guys in this draft, they’re talented, for sure, but as of tomorrow I can step on the court and contribute.”

Alkins finished his “Tour” of the USA with a visit with the Indiana Pacers. While in Indianapolis, Alkins returned after college to continue his blog in USA Today that he started in high school. In the blog, he spoke about how he is living his dream.

"I, honestly, can’t believe that I’m about to be an NBA player. That hasn’t hit me yet.I can’t even believe I just said that. Wow. It’s like a dream.I personally think I’ll surprise a lot of people in the draft. I’m confident in what I can bring to a team and I’ve been fortunate to be able to matchup against some of the top players in the draft at workouts and everybody leaves the workouts surprised at how well I play.I tell them they shouldn’t be surprised because it’s always been like that."

It’s been a fun ride or better yet flight! I honestly though do not know how these draftees do it. All the training, all the interviewing, and flying all over the country. For us, it was like, “Where in the world are our Wildcats?” At one point Dre, Zo, and King Rawle were all in the air at the same time.

On his way back to Brooklyn, Alkins is not sure he will attend the draft, he has to talk to his agent first. He is picking out a suit, however, and if it is anything like his personality, you better hold on to your TV remote to catch the action. I want to hear him say Savage Life on the NBA Level, wouldn’t that be fun?

This Lakers fan wants Luke Walton, Miles Simon, and Jesse Mermuys to draft a Wildcat finally. Isn’t it about time? With all the changes projected for the Lakers, or not, Rawle will be perfect because he can adapt to any situation, he’s proved it. Magic Johnson has a big vote along with GM Rob Pelinka. And they are working all kinds of deals right now. Will they stick with their young crew?

The second perfect place for Alkins is the Golden State Warriors. Alkins told Andrew Sharp, “I want to be seen as a guard version of Draymond Green.” What better place to fulfill his vision than being coached by the same coaches, and a couple of fellow Wildcats Steve Kerr and Bruce Fraser? Friends already with Jordan Bell, Alkins could get playing time as the Warriors will need to change things up next season to be a little more unpredictable. Green and Klay Thompson seem to be staying with the Warriors, so Alkins would have Green himself to learn from.

How does NBA prospect Rawle Alkins see himself? 'I tell teams I want to be seen as a guard version of Draymond Green' https://t.co/QfJry9W7VM
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 19, 2018

The third team I can visualize as a great fit is the Phoenix Suns. He and Dre can be a great Duo as they proved last season when Alkins fed Dre under the basket and vice versa. Arizona loves Rawle and Rawle loves Arizona. Wildcats fans will come out in droves to support their NBA Cats.

As for Alkins preference, he hasn’t really committed to any team out loud, but he did mention that he is trying to picture himself playing and living in each city for a decade or more In an interview.

Other options for Alkins, if you are only looking at teams who worked him out, are the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Indiana Pacers (his last workout), the Sacramento Kings (his first workout), the Atlanta Hawks, his hometown Brooklyn Nets who worked him out last year, the Utah Jazz, or the Dallas Mavericks. Who knows, maybe there’s a team who didn’t work him out at their facility who have caught the buzz, and they decide to draft him.

https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/999424742007431168

Where and when he goes in the draft is not a concern of Alkins because he’s just happy playing in the NBA as he dreamed. “Once I hear my name called, it’ll be a sigh of relief. Obviously, like you said, my range varies. It’s been really high and really low, but talking to these teams I’ve been getting great feedback. So it’s just going to be an interesting night on Thursday ” It makes a lot of sense too. Look at Steve Kerr! He was drafted in the second round at No. 50, as a 6-foot-3 180-pound guard, and he had a storied career as a player.

Also look at Jordan Bell who went No. 28 to the Chicago Bulls and was then traded to the Warriors. The former Oregon Duck ended up playing in the 2018 NBA playoffs and finals and later became legendary by stealing the show while celebrating the Championship in Cleveland and San Fransisco this season.

Alkins points to Kyle Kuzma, who was drafted at No. 27 by the Brooklyn Nets then traded to the Lakers. Kuz became the most celebrated rookie on the Lakers when most thought it would be Lonzo Ball. “You have guys like Kyle Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell. They didn’t go number one in the draft,” said Alkins, “but they’re probably doing better than a lot of guys picked above them.”

If you have been reading my posts over the last two years, you will not be surprised that I write a lot about this former Wildcat. I noticed Alkins coming out of High School. I loved his tenacity, his heart on the court and his explosiveness. He just wanted to win! He was my first ever interview, and now I sit here two years later, a dozen or so NBA Interviews since then under my belt and I am still impressed. He has a firm handle on his strengths and what he can bring to an NBA team and a high basketball IQ.

Alkins is a difference maker plain and simple. He is a sleeper in this draft. When you meet him in person, he has a presence about him. Media have described his build as one of a football player, and that is an understatement. But when you talk to him, you find a warm young man who has an infectious smile and is humble yet realistic, coachable. I’m figuring his confidence coming back to his second round of the Combine, Workouts, and interviews are something anyone interviewing him will pick up on, as well as the fact that he sees himself as a two-way guard, the best one in the draft.

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I am predicting King Rawle is a solid first-round pick. When he starts playing in the NBA, he will perform better than others who are highly touted just like he did at both Combines he attended. But no matter what happens, he will always have a great attitude and fun personality and I will be a huge fan of Rawle for a long, long time to come. Bear Down King Rawle, go get your bag and continue living the Savage Life.

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