Rawle Alkins — 20, SG, Arizona
Rawle Alkins is Lance Stephenson 2.0. Both measure 6-5 and about 225 pounds, both hail from Brooklyn, and both play with intense energy. That might worry some of you, but the good news is Alkins appears to be a smarter player.
Oh, and when I say Stephenson, I mean the really good, Pacers-version. Not Clippers Lance.
Alkins is a solid shooter, converting 45% of his looks during his two-year career at Arizona. What makes him such a coveted prospect though, is his defensive ability. A versatile defender, Alkins can defend positions 1-3 on the court, and is one of the better perimeter defenders in the draft.
His three-point shooting and turnover rate need some help, however. Alkins shot 36% from deep last season, and recorded 2.6 turnovers to his 2.5 assists per game.
He’ll never be a team’s primary option, but he should be a reliable option off the bench. Best case, he becomes an elite defender and a staple of the starting rotation.
Alkins is, in a sense, the shooting guard equivalent of Montrezl Harrell. Both play with tremendous energy, both feed off the crowd, and both play bigger than their size. If he can develop into a more efficient player, he could make a real impact in the NBA.