Collin Sexton

Collin Sexton, USA, Point Guard, Class of 2017, University of Alabama, 18.2
 
Strengths
-Solid tools for a point guard prospect at 6'2, with a 6' 6.5 wingspan, especially when coupled with his explosiveness.
-Quick twitch athlete with excellent burst. Dynamic in transition. Shifts gears with force. Doesn't need a ball screen to get to the rim. Explosive leaper in space, especially off two feet.
-Game is predicated on his ability to get into the teeth of the defense - 39.4 points per 40 minutes (25 lifetime DX database games). Most comfortable attacking to his left. Plays off of hang dribbles. Can finish with either hand.
-Improving shooter, although still inconsistent. Went through competitive shooting workouts after every session. Hard worker. Career 33% from three. Best in mid-range spots. Can create space off the bounce.
-Tough kid who plays with a chip on his shoulder. Doesn't shy away from contact at all. Crazed look in his eyes during the heat of the battle. Positive emotion after big plays. Keeps coming at you. Killer mentality. Attacks his own misses.
-Competes defensively. Can really sit down and slide. Active hands. Not afraid to defend with physicality.
-Although more of a score-first point guard, he showcased his vision throughout Hoop Summit practices and games. Can deliver the ball from different angles. Passes over the top in pick and roll with his left hand. Good in drive and dish situations. Still developing as a pure point guard but certainly has vision.
-Has the mental makeup of a player who will maximize his potential
 
Weaknesses
-Good not great physical profile for an NBA lead guard. Average height and frame when compared to some of the NBA's elite lead guards.
-Very streaky shooter. Somewhat mechanical release. Hand a bit too on top of the ball. Shoots it off the outside of his hand at times. Can improve his range and comfortability from deep.
-Turns down rhythm spot ups. More comfortable off the bounce.
-Gets too sped up at times. Wild driving into traffic. Very turnover prone at times. Will hoist up contested jumpers early in the clock. Score-first guard. Flash over substance passer. Still has room to polish his point guard skills.
-Explosive, but can add more savvy as a finisher. Goes for the homerun, flashy finish at times. Could benefit from a more consistent floater. Slightly more comfortable loading up off of two feet than one.
-One-position defender due to his tools
-Lets his emotions get the best of him at times when things aren't going his way. Can do a better job of staying even keel and controlling the pace of the game.
 
Outlook
Although he didn't have a great game from an efficiency standpoint (3-of-11, 0-of-5 from 3), Sexton's explosiveness, passion for the game, improving vision (8 assists) and overall intensity (4 steals) really shined through in Portland, particularly during the scrimmages leading up to the game. Sexton possesses the killer mentality and confidence that NBA scouts and executives covet in a young prospect. The Atlanta native certainly has room to improve as a player - he's an average shooter at best and his wild nature gets him in trouble for stretches - but it's hard not to bet on his no fear' mentality, explosiveness, scoring ability and passing potential. He may not have the elite size and length that you see from the majority of today's top guard prospects, but Sexton should leave Tuscaloosa as a lottery-level prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft.

An interview with US point guard prospect and Alabama commit Collin Sexton at the Nike Hoop Summit practices in Portland, Oregon.

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Interview

 Practice highlights and an interview with elite 2017 high school prospect Collin Sexton from the 2017 McDonald's All-American Game in Chicago, Illinois.

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Interview

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Video Highlights
Video filming and production courtesy of Tad Hathaway of 312 Media.

Collin Sexton, 6'2, Point Guard, Pebblebrook HS, 1999



Strengths
-Very good physical tools for a point guard. Solid height. Near 6'7 wingspan. Strong frame that will continue to fill out in time
-Tremendous athlete. Incredibly quick, explosive
-Can create offense without a screen. Quick and powerful first step driving left or right
-Hungry, aggressive scorer
-Unstoppable in transition at this tournament
-Can make shots with feet set or off the dribble
-Strong ball-handler. Gets low to the ground, changes gears impressively. Turns the corner and gets into the paint frequently. Puts constant pressure on the defense. Very difficult to stay in front of with his ability to change speeds
-Finishes with both hands around the basket
-Tough player. Not afraid of contact. Will drive with a full head of steam and draw contact, getting him to the free throw line quite a bit
-Flashy, creative passer. Pushes the ball ahead impressively. Uses both sides of the floor. Doesn't always use it, but has better court vision than you'd assume on first glance. Especially in drive and dish situations or tossing lobs
-Uses his athleticism to get on the offensive glass, block shots
-Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Always in attack mode. Has a strong desire to make things happen on the floor

Weaknesses
-So hungry to score he gets out of control at times and freezes out teammates.
-Can be somewhat of a volume scorer at times, still working on his efficiency. 49.6% for 2 in EYBL play.
-Shot-selection, decision making still a work in progress
-Goes for too many homerun, highlight reel type plays. Can do a better job of being solid
-Tends to put his head down in traffic and try and force his way to the basket. Struggles with his vision in traffic or when pressured.
-Capable outside shooter, but still working on finding consistency from behind the 3-point line, partially due to shot-selection. Shot 33% for 3 in EYBL play. Mechanics aren't consistent yet
-Can't always finish what he creates around the basket. Degree of wildness on his drives
-Highly expressive and reactive on the floor. Can do a better job of controlling his emotions, which can get him in trouble with refs. Doesn't always look respectful of the opposition. Has a cockiness that borders on arrogance at times

Outlook A completely unheralded recruit just a few months ago, Sexton continued his breakout spring/summer by winning MVP honors of the FIBA U17 World Championship. He averaged an outrageous 34 points, 8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 3.3 steals per-40 minutes, coming off the bench and playing 18 minutes per game as USA Basketball's designated spark-plug. Although he can rub people the wrong way at times with his on-court antics, it's difficult not to be impressed with his athleticism, scoring instincts and will to impose himself on games, while the sparks he shows as a playmaker give a lot of room for optimism regarding his development running a team. Clearly on an upward trajectory, so it will be interesting to see how he progresses over the next few years.