2015 NBA Draft: Five Potential 1st and 2nd Round Draft Steals
By Ryan McNeill
Feb 2, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Georges Niang (31) has his shot blocked by Kansas Jayhawks forward Cliff Alexander (2) during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 89-76. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Cliff Alexander
PF/C (Kansas – Freshman)
19.5 years old | 6’9″ | 239 pounds
I’m not ready to give up on this kid, yet.
Sure, his freshman season at Kansas was a big disappointment, but how many teenagers could deal with the kind of stuff Alexander had to deal with off the court. Being forced to miss games while your mom and NCAA get into a fight over your eligibility would distract any teenager.
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Plus, missing most of the season, only to be thrusted into the media glare late in the season, isn’t ideal for any college kid. It’s not like he had the chance to play in “easy” games before conference play began.
He only played 17 minutes per game, but shot 56 percent from the field during his limited run. He also averaged 1.3 blocks and 5.3 boards per game. If Alexander had played closer to 30 minutes per game, then his numbers would be more drool-worthy. His potential shone through, even though his conditioning wasn’t there, after being deemed ineligible for most of his freshman season.
Back in April and May of last year, Alexander was ranked as the second best prospect in this draft per Draft Express. For that reason alone, he’s worth taking a risk on at the end of the first round.
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