Collin Sexton | The Young Bull

[The Human Q-Tip]

He was 6'7 his senior year in highschool and got the scholarship, 7'1 by graduation of the academy.

Close, but just being accurate, lol.

Gosh, I guess I must have been thinking of some other guy in the company one floor above me.

 

[Lee]

Gosh, I guess I must have been thinking of some other guy in the company one floor above me.

You knew David Robinson?

Anyways, story I read, he measured at 6'7 when offered the scholarship in the spring of his senior year, by the time he graduated college he was 7'1

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

You knew David Robinson?

Yes. He was a plebe when I was a first class.

 

[Lee]

Yes. He was a plebe when I was a first class.

Nice guy? Did he come in with an attitude since he was a major basketball recruit at a non basketball school?

Edit, looked up article, he was 6'6 his senior per article.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Nice guy? Did he come in with an attitude since he was a major basketball recruit at a non basketball school?

Edit, looked up article, he was 6'6 his senior per article.

No. He was actually a very good plebe. Always knew his rates, always had a good room, uniform etc., and no attitude at all He of course got some shit initially but generally was left alone after that because he was so squared-away. He was 6'7" during plebe summer, but one of my friends who did the official measurements said he was 6'8" when the basketball season began. He was obviously in the middle of growth spurt.

He also ended up taking one of the hardest majors there, and did very well. Lots of other athletes took easier majors.

 

[Lee]

No. He was actually a very good plebe. Always knew his rates, always had a good room, uniform etc., and no attitude at all He of course got some shit initially but generally was left alone after that because he was so squared-away. He was 6'7" during plebe summer, but one of my friends who did the official measurements said he was 6'8" when the basketball season began. He was obviously in the middle of growth spurt.

He also ended up taking one of the hardest majors there, and did very well. Lots of other athletes took easier majors.

The article said he cut a deal, he was thinking of leaving because he was too tall once he arrived (they said 6'8, but like you said he grew to that by first game already). So he became an engineer to fufill his promise to the Navy instead of leaving before he was obligated.

Always liked the guy, immense talent, only negative was didn't always play with heart. If he had a chip on his shoulder could of been top 10 of all time, as it is, still top 25.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

The article said he cut a deal, he was thinking of leaving because he was too tall once he arrived (they said 6'8, but like you said he grew to that by first game already). So he became an engineer to fufill his promise to the Navy instead of leaving before he was obligated.

Always liked the guy, immense talent, only negative was didn't always play with heart. If he had a chip on his shoulder could of been top 10 of all time, as it is, still top 25.

If you become "NPQ" -- Not Physically Qualified -- after being admitted, you have the choice to resign with no penalty, and no future military obligation. However, you also can get a waiver from the Supe to serve if you still wish to do so. It commonly happens even for ordinary mids who get hurt, or are discovered to be color-blind (happened to a friend of mine), or become too tall, etc.... So he cut a deal, but it really wasn't that unusual.

Being "NPQ" just means you aren't unrestricted, and can't do things like be a pilot, or go subs, or surface line, or Marines. But there are some non-combat specialties you can do and still serve. Robinson got a supply gig when assigned to the CEC, and served two years on a shore tour -- too tall for a ship.

It's unfair when people who don't know how it all works accuse Robinson of shirking, or getting special treatment. Dude could have taken the easy way out and left at any time, but chose not to. There are some other instances where perfectly healthy guys were basically diagnosed with bogus injuries so they could only serve a little bit and then take a shot in the NFL. He was legitimately NPQ by the Navy's own definitions. But the guy stayed because he really wanted that Navy commission for which he'd worked, even though he couldn't really have a career.

 

[Lee]

If you become "NPQ" -- Not Physically Qualified -- after being admitted, you have the choice to resign with no penalty, and no future military obligation. However, you also can get a waiver from the Supe to serve if you still wish to do so. It commonly happens even for ordinary mids who get hurt, or are discovered to be color-blind, or become too tall, etc....Being "NPQ" just means you aren't unrestricted, and can't do things like be a pilot, or go subs, or surface line, or Marines. But there are some non-combat specialties you can do and still serve. Robinson became a supply officer and served two years on a shore tour -- too tall for a ship.

It's unfair when people who don't know how it all works accuse Robinson of shirking, or getting special treatment. Dude could have taken the easy way out and left at any time, but chose not to. There are some other instances where perfectly healthy guys were basically diagnoses with bogus injuries so they could only serve a little bit and then take a shot in the NFL.

In any interview, Robinson is proud of his time in the Navy, and honestly he should be.

If there was anything that David did that was taking the easy way out was growing to 7'1 and being athletic as hell. As a 5'9 slow, white former basketball player, I find David's immense physical tools cheating for sure, lol.

 

[cavsfever]

Colin gets the Zach Lowe treatment. Very good and thoughtful analysis as usual from Lowe. A balanced take, honest about the pluses and minuses. I agree with him that Colin's three point shooting ability is a huge deal, the most indispensable element to offensive success in the modern NBA and Colin has it. Beyond that, his raw energy and ferocity combined with a developing offensive savvy does give a lot of cause for optimism.

For videos, click on the link and see Item 3, "It's Time to Talk About Colin Sexton"

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26320441/ten-things-like-including-terrifying-giannis

3. It's time to talk about Collin Sexton
Sexton is kinda starting to happen. His 3-point shooting -- up to 42 percent -- has been a slow-burn shocker. It began with Sexton canning open 3-pointers when defenders ignored him, or ducked 10 feet below screens. He had time to check the wind. Skeptics shrugged.

He kept hitting those, even as defenders at least waved at him. Now, he's dribbling into 3s when defenders chase him over screens. He's even daring the occasional step-back, and he buried both Detroit and Milwaukee this week with daggers.

He's also showing some nascent feel on the pick-and-roll. He is already good at faking toward picks, getting defenders leaning that way, then jetting the other direction. He's learning to slow down, pin defenders on his back, and give his big man time to roll into an open passing lane. If no other option appears, Sexton snaps into a soft floater:

If downshifting reveals a driving lane -- if, say, it tricks a help defender into expecting a pass -- Sexton engages turbo gear:

That is a barely 6-foot guy finishing through Andre Drummond. Playing with Kevin Love again has helped; the Cavs have outscored opponents by 2.6 points per 100 possessions when Love and Sexton play together, per NBA.com.

Sexton remains a train wreck on defense. His score-first approach has annoyed teammates. He still isn't creating enough for others, leaving the Cavs a little puzzled over what sort of perimeter players they need alongside him long term. But this change-of-pace guile is promising precisely because it is Sexton prodding far enough to create passing lanes instead of settling for 20-foot bricks that create none. The next steps are anticipating those passing lanes, and exploiting them.

Beyond that, there is just something to like about Sexton. He is fearless, and the best kind of cocky. I sat courtside in Philly last Friday as an undermanned Cleveland team battled the Sixers to the final buzzer. Philly was visibly disinterested. That annoyed and emboldened the Cavs, especially Sexton. They wanted to punish the Sixers for their arrogance.

Sexton scored 26 in that game, and he demanded the ball on every crunch-time possession. He genuinely did not think any Sixer could stop him. He plays with a ferocious opportunism a little reminiscent of Russell Westbrook:

That is almost the reverse of a Kobe Assist -- a basket most point guards would not think to hunt. Sexton has the sort of spirit a team can rally around, provided he improves his passing.

Sexton is a long way from being even average for his position. But his first-year trajectory has been encouraging.
​

 

[1B4IGO]

So that makes what? 4 inches?

Now I feel inadequate.

 

[Jontibs]

That is a nice piece from Lowe. Sexton wants it, wants to be the best he can be, not going to settle for less than that. You have to admire that commitment, properly channeled and with the right players around him it can be inspiring.

Finding the right partner at the 2 guard to make up for his defensive shortcomings and provide more traditional playmaking is the trick.

 

[benchplayer]

"His score-first approach has annoyed teammates" but they are fine with Clarkson chucking?

 

[David.]

"His score-first approach has annoyed teammates" but they are fine with Clarkson chucking?

Probably not a fan of him doing it either

 

[inliner311]

"His score-first approach has annoyed teammates" but they are fine with Clarkson chucking?

Its probably Clarkson and Nance who think the offense should revolve around them.

Also it could just be taken out of context. I saw an article where the headline was some like Sexton got better at shooting because his teammates were yelling at him. If you watch the video of his quote though, he was more joking that his teammates were yelling from the sidelines when he wasn't taking good shots to help him realize good and bad shots.

 

[chuck0609]

I like the continual backhanded articles/comments about Sexton- he’s the type that fuels off comments.
He’s putting work in, a lot of it. My favorite comment recently was the Cavs want him to get a hobby. He’s a gym rat. Loves the game, wants to be great.
He’s only 20. In two years, at the ripe age of 22, we maybe laughing about these early doubts.