Rawle Alkins says he can’t wait to help Arizona win a national championship next season, and now the Wildcats might be expected to do just that.
Alkins announced on social media Sunday that he will return for his sophomore season after testing the NBA Draft process by participating in the NBA Combine and private workouts with the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors.
He was subbed out of a scheduled workout at Utah on Saturday, fueling speculation he would return to the UA, and announced he was withdrawing from the draft on Sunday, three days before the deadline college players have to return to school if they do not sign with an agent.
His return ensures the Wildcats will be at least a top Final Four candidate, with many national publications already having called them an early No. 1 preseason pick.
“After much thought and consideration, I have decided to continue my college basketball career back in Tucson at the University of Arizona,” Alkins posted on Instagram and Twitter. “Declaring for the NBA Draft has taught me more than I could have imagined and has been an incredible experience. I can’t wait to help the Wildcats win a national championship next year with a great team, great coach, and the most amazing fans in the world.”
On Twitter, Alkins posted that statement along with this message: “Story is not over yet, still have some unfinished business to take care of. SAVAGELIFE.”
Alkins is projected as a mid-second round NBA pick in 2018 by Draft Express, and he likely could have warranted a similar spot this June and/or a two-way contract that would have earned him between $76,000 and $279,000 depending on the number of days he played in the D-League and NBA.
In Chicago earlier this month, Alkins opened eyes during his first NBA Combine game by scoring 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, while recording the fifth-highest maximum vertical leap (40.5 inches) in a Combine with 67 participants.
“Some nice moments for Rawle Alkins,” Draft Express analyst Mike Schmitz tweeted during the Combine. “A load going to the rim, not shying away from contact, can play PnR (pick and roll) and make a spot three.”
After his first game, Alkins indicated that he was enjoying more offensive freedom in the NBA setting.
“I didn’t think I really showcased (offense) too much this season being that I was a freshman,” Alkins said. “Whether I go back to school or go to the NBA Draft, I think that’s going to expand because I continue to work on my craft and my game every day.”
Alkins also said at the Combine he was “50-50” on returning to school or staying in the draft, saying it would depend on the feedback he received from NBA scouts and executives.
Alkins may play a similar role as a sophomore, with Allonzo Trier and freshman DeAndre Ayton expected to be the Wildcats’ leading scorers, but said he was confident he would improve whether he returned to Arizona or not.
“You know the University of Arizona. You know how amazing it is over there,” Alkins told the Star at the Combine. “It’s a tough decision. Depending on my decision, it can impact a bunch of people.”
Alkins’ return gives the UA a potentially powerful starting lineup with he and Trier on the wings, surrounded by Parker Jackson-Cartwright at point guard, Ayton at power forward and Dusan Ristic at center.
During the wave of “Way Too Early” Top 25 picks released in April, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, USA Today and Fox all put the Wildcats atop their rankings, while ESPN had them at No. 11 and Bleacher Report put them at 10.
“If the guys on the should-I-go-pro fence decide to return, Arizona is the clear Pac-12 favorite, and the Wildcats will stay atop this (national) ranking,” Sporting News wrote. Its college basketball columnist, Mike DeCourcy, told the Star that the ranking was based on an assumption that the UA would return two of its top three perimeter players: Alkins, Trier and Kobi Simmons.
While Simmons stayed in permanently and is projected as a second-round pick, Trier opted to return without even testing the draft.
Not surprisingly, Alkins’ announcement that he was also staying generated significant reaction on Twitter, where he was trending into the late afternoon. Ristic even quoted Alkins’ statement and added: “Glad you’re back bro! #SavageLife”
Jackson-Cartwright replied to them both by saying: “Yessir!”
While UA coach Sean Miller was unavailable for comment Sunday, Arizona announced 61 minutes after Alkins posted his statement that the school would hold a news conference with Miller at noon on Monday.
While Alkins’ move probably cemented the Wildcats’ starting lineup next season, Arizona still has one scholarship available for 2017-18. The decisions of Alkins and Trier to return probably make it less likely UA will receive a commitment from five-star wing Brian Bowen, who has said he is waiting to see who returns to the schools he is considering.
The UA still might have a shot at Pitt grad transfer wing Cameron Johnson, who is also considering Kentucky and North Carolina, among others. However, Scout.com’s North Carolina site posted a statement from Pitt that it will not let him play immediately next season if he transfers within the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Johnson is a third-year sophomore who is expected to graduate from Pitt, making him a rare grad transfer who will be eligible to play immediately and have two years remaining.
