By ADAM ZAGORIA
Former Arizona guard and Brooklyn native Rawle Alkins will play summer league with and attend training camp for the Toronto Raptors, multiple sources told ZAGSBLOG.
Despite reports, he has not signed an Exhibit 10 or Two-Way contract with the team.
“Rawle’s game is explosive and powerful and he has an infectious enthusiasm and true love for the game,” Arizona assistant Mark Phelps said. “He enjoys the process of self-improvement as a player and his best basketball is ahead of him. Rawle will bring great enthusiasm and energy to camp with the Raptors and a ‘Big Play’ ability that translates to the NBA.
“He can score in a variety of ways, he can rebound at both ends, he has excellent vision to play-make for teammates and, because of his strength and athleticism, will be a very good one on one defender. Everyone at Arizona, coaches and teammates included, believe in Rawle at the highest level and we’re confident that he will make his way as a long-time NBA player.”
The Raptors didn’t have a pick in the Draft, having traded a first- and second-round selection to Brooklyn along with forward DeMarre Carroll in July 2017.
During his sophomore season, Alkins averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists and helped lead Arizona to a PAC-12 Tournament title before falling to Buffalo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Talking to these teams, they love the fact that I’m position-less,” he said after one workout. “They just can put me out there. The NBA is just a fast-paced game. If you look at the playoffs, the Houston Rockets, the Warriors, there’s no centers, there’s no real positions on the court. It’s just fast-paced basketball.”
.@Iam_RawleAlkins made Sactown his first workout, now hear how it went ?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JJpw67AAYM
— Sacramen2 Kings (@SacramentoKings) May 23, 2018
Alkins tested the waters after his freshman year but decided to return to Tuscon after working out for teams and receiving feedback from NBA personnel.
Fellow Wildcat Deandre Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick of the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, while Arizona guard Allonzo Trier went undrafted and signed a Two-Way with the Knicks.
