2017-18 Season

Cavs.com In-Depth: Collin Sexton Comes to Cleveland

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Collin Sexton Meets the Media as He Gears Up for the Next Level

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
6/22/18 | Cavs.com

It’s unclear what to expect from a player who comes into his introductory press conference with the nickname “the Young Bull.”

The newest Cavalier – Collin Sexton – who enters the Association with one of the most stylish sobriquets in recent memory, met the assembled media on Friday afternoon. And the eighth overall selection of the 2018 Draft looked wide-eyed and ready to roll. (And he’ll get his chance when Las Vegas Summer League tips off in less than two weeks.)

Flanked on both sides by his new general manager and head coach, Sexton answered questions ranging from his 3-on-5 heroics against Minnesota to his dietary improvement from chicken wings to salad. Mostly, he looked like a 19-year-old whose life has been moving extremely fast over the past few weeks.

The Cavaliers have been a veteran team since the return of LeBron James in 2014, but they’ve gradually gotten younger – and both Koby Altman and Tyronn Lue seemed genuinely excited to start shaping their new point guard.

”I’ve seen Collin grow as a player and he exemplifies hard work and dedication,” said Lue. “I think when you look at him two years ago, he wasn’t on the circuit as being one of the top players in the country but he continued to work and dedicate himself to the game of basketball. And look where he’s at today.

”When you have a guy who work hard as Collin does to get where he wants to get, those are the guys you want on your team,” Lue continued. “His toughness, his character, being a great student in the classroom – all that exemplifies what we want to do here in Cleveland and I’m glad he’s part of it.”

Colin Sexton, flanked by Koby Altman and Tyronn Lue at his introductory presser in Independence.
Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Sexton goes from one former NBA point guard as coach – matriculating under the tutelage of Avery Johnson at Alabama and advancing to Coach Lue at the next level.

”(Coach Johnson) told me that this wasn’t the end, this was only the beginning,” smiled Sexton. “He told me don’t stop working, keep the same attitude that I have and keep working every day to get better.”

In his single season at Alabama, the 6-3, 185-pound Atlanta native was outstanding – and improved as the season went on, notching a school-record 79 points in the Alabama’s three SEC Tournament games. He averaged 19.2 points on 45 percent shooting – posting 29 double-digit scoring games in his single season in Tuscaloosa – including 16 games of 20 more points and three games topping the 30-point plateau.

Sexton’s 40-point performance in Bama’s November 25 loss to Minnesota – tallying 31 of those after intermission – was a freshman school record.

”We haven’t had a lot of chances to develop guys – we did the Kevin Love deal and other trades and didn’t have draft picks,” said Coach Lue. “So having (Sexton), Clarkson, Hood, Cedi, Big Z – now we have guys that we can develop and help mature as they go along. And I’m very excited for that challenge.”

Altman – in his first NBA Draft as GM of the Wine &amp; Gold – also seemed energized by another infusion of youth (and talent) to the roster.

”First and foremost, we want to compete at the highest level, and winning championships is still our goal and will always be our goal,” maintained Altman. “But through that process, we wanted to focus on long-term success and sustainability and during this year we were able to do that – (get) more talented, more athletic and have some real momentum going into the future. And we knew this pick was going to be a big part of that plan.

”Now, it’s not a pick anymore – it’s Collin Sexton.”

As always, the Cavaliers will reshape their roster over the course of the offseason. And Sexton will eventually have to work with some seasoned pros while running the point – not always an easy transition for a teenager.

”Coming in (to the league), I would say making sure the guys around you are together as one,” said Sexton. “Everybody has egos, everybody is older, vets do certain things certain ways. So just building relationships with your teammates – that’s the biggest thing. You build it off the court, it carries onto the court and good things happen after that.”

The Cavaliers didn’t out-think the process on Thursday night. They selected the player they loved at a position of absolute need – a strong overall start to what could be a seminal summer.

”Going into the Draft, I just wanted to go to the right team,” said the newest Cavalier. “A team that was going to allow me to learn and just come in and be me. I was just blessed to be there with all those guys in the Draft – and to be picked at No. 8 by Cleveland was big and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life.”

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The Young Bull Arrives

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Cavs Introduce Collin Sexton

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Sexton Presser Through the Lens

Cavaliers Tab the "Young Bull" -- Collin Sexton -- with the No. 8 Pick

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
6/21/18 | Cavs.com

Less than a year ago, the Cavaliers’ point guard position was thrown into disarray not long after falling in the NBA Finals.

On Thursday night, less than two weeks after getting bumped again by the Warriors, the Wine &amp; Gold reloaded at the one, tabbing the “Young Bull” – explosive Alabama point guard Collin Sexton – with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

”I’m glad the Cavs picked me at No. 8,” said Sexton, sporting a crimson dinner jacket just a shade off the wine he’ll wear in Cleveland, “When I was working out for them, I felt like it was one of my better workouts; probably one of my best workouts actually. So I’m very excited to be part of this organization.”

”Obviously, he’s a talented point guard that can score, can get into the lane, he’s athletic, he’s got upside, his shooting is improving,” said Cavs GM Koby Altman. “But what we’re trying to be about in Cleveland right now is guys with great attitude, great work ethic and guys that really want to be here.

”And when I called him tonight, he wanted to run here. He exploded out of the phone how much he wanted to be here. And that’s meaningful to us, that’s meaningful for the city.”

Like most of this year’s Lottery picks, Sexton was a one-and-done guy with the Crimson Tide – but it was a memorable single season.

The newest Cavalier, Collin Sexton, was dressed for success on Thursday night in Brooklyn.
Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

And as good as he was at year’s end – scoring 31 points to top Auburn in the SEC Tourney and netting 25 against Virginia Tech to give Bama its first NCAA Tournament win since 2006 – it was actually a loss in late November that put the Young Bull on the map.

In that November 25 matchup between Alabama and then-14th-ranked Minnesota, injuries and disqualifications forced the Crimson Tide to play 3-on-5 for the final 10 minutes of the contest. Sexton led the charge, scoring 31 of his 40 points in the second half as Bama actually outscored the Golden Gophers, 30-22, while shorthanded.

Sexton’s Crimson Tide would go on to lose the game, 89-84, but their star guard showed exactly what he was made of in the same building he would eventually be drafted in on Thursday night.

He continued to show his mettle the rest of the way, finishing the campaign as the both the SEC’s Newcomer and Freshman of the Year. The 6-3, 190-pounder from Georgia was also named All-SEC First Team by the media and an AP Honorable Mention All-American.

As the Draft shook out, some of the top bigs came off the board early and Dallas and Atlanta swapped two of the night’s top two playmakers – Luka Doncic and Trae Young – in the top five picks. In that respect, the Cavaliers – who’d struggled to find a consistent replacement at the point all year – got exactly what they were looking for.

”For me, the playmaking piece was really key,” said Altman. “I think there were some really good bigs in this Draft, I think there were some really good wings in this Draft. But this was a point of need and, at that point, you definitely want to take the best talent – but when it aligns it’s a really good thing and we were fortunate that he was there.”

Sexton’s college coach, former NBA guard Avery Johnson, was in attendance at Barclays Center to support his young star – and he was effusive in his praise.

”Can you make a play when the play breaks down? He has that ability,” said Johnson. “Whether it’s the mid-range, the pull-up three, getting to the basket for three-point plays, he’s the fastest guy with and without the ball that I’ve seen in my career.

”And he has that entertainment factor – he’s a guy that fans in Cleveland are really gonna embrace. And he’s a hard worker, he spends a lot of time in the gym, so they’re really enjoy getting to know him and watch him on the court.”

But he also drew plenty of praise from opposing coaches at Alabama.

Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams said Sexton’s “talent is semi-other-worldly,” while Villanova’s Jay Wright called him “the most dynamic guard we’ve played all year.”

Sexton earned his nickname because of his relentless, physical style. He’s constantly in attack mode, plays downhill and doesn’t shy from the spotlight. He averaged 19.2 points on 45 percent shooting and improved as the season went on – scoring a school-record 79 points in the Alabama’s three SEC Tournament games.

He posted 29 double-digit scoring games in his single season in Tuscaloosa – including 16 games of 20 more points and three games topping the 30-point plateau. Sexton’s 40-point performance in the wild loss to Minnesota was a freshman school record.

As good as his offensive numbers were, Sexton has the ability (and willingness) to become an outstanding defender.

”The most important side is the defensive side just because of all the players you have to go against night in, night out,” said the 19-year-old who earned a 4.0 grade average in his single season at Alabama.

”(Sexton) is going to defend; he’s going to take on the challenge,” concluded Altman. “In this league, it’s so hard to guard people. You’re not going to shut down the toughest players in the world, you’re just not. But you can make it tough for them, you can make it hard for them.

”He’s going to compete, he’s not scared. And I think Cleveland, Ohio is going to get behind this kind of kid.”

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Wine & Gold Get Their Guard

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2018 NBA Draft Through the Lens

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday selected guard Collin Sexton from the University of Alabama with the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Sexton (6-3, 190) played one year collegiately at Alabama, averaging 19.2 points (second-most in SEC), 3.8 rebounds and a team-high 3.6 assists in 33 games (32 starts) during 2017-18. His 632 total points were the third-most for any player in a single season in school history as well as the most ever by an Alabama freshman. Sexton scored 10 points or more on 29 occasions, 20 points or more 16 times and 30 points or more in three contests. He set an Alabama freshman scoring record with 40 points, including 31 in the second half, on Nov. 25 against Minnesota, while also becoming the first Tide player to score 40 points in a game since 1979. Sexton also helped lead Alabama to its first NCAA tournament win since 2006 with a victory over Virginia Tech on March 15.

Following his freshman campaign, Sexton was named 2017-18 SEC Newcomer of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second Alabama player to ever earn the Freshman honor (Mo Williams, 2002). He also earned All-SEC First Team honors as voted by media, and was tabbed All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman Team by SEC coaches. A 2017-18 AP Honorable Mention All-America selection, Sexton was additionally named to the SEC All-Tournament team after scoring a school-record 79 points over the Tide’s three games.

The Marietta, Ga. native played at Pebblebrook High School (Mableton, Ga.), where he was a 2016-17 Naismith High School All-American Second Team selection. He won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain, and was named MVP of the tournament after leading Team USA in both scoring and assists.

2017‑18 Season