Valparaiso Basketball: Alec Peters to capture nation's heart

Is Alec Peters capable of carrying Valparaiso basketball to the NCAA Tournament?

It still feels as if Valparaiso forward Alec Peters is being underestimated or underrated nationally.

Maybe it’s because he plays in the Horizon League, where national attention doesn’t hold to form.

Or maybe it’s because he was unable to lead the Crusaders to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015-16. The team lost to Green Bay in the Horizon League Conference Tournament and lost in the NIT Finals to George Washington, failing to live up to expectations as the best mid-major team in the country.

Or is it the fact that with Peters on the roster, the Crusaders have yet to win a game in the Big Dance?

Regardless of the lack of attention in previous years, Peters is going to capture the nation’s heart in 2016-17.

Peters has gotten better in every year of his college career. He went from averaging 12.7 points in his freshman year, to 16.8 points in his sophomore year and finally to 18.4 points per game in his junior year.

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The 6’9″ forward also averaged 8.5 rebounds, dished out 1.3 assists, shot 50 percent from the field, shot 44 percent from three and hit 85 percent of his free throws last year.

He could’ve very well been a second round selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, but instead opted to remain in college basketball. Because he has already graduated from Valpo, Peters also had the option of transferring to another program as an immediate eligible graduate student.

And trust me when I say that every major program in the NCAA would’ve been vying for his services.

Peters is that special of a player. He is versatile, smart, athletic and mobile. He has the shooting ability, the ball handling skills and the toughness on the glass to pull down rebounds on both ends of the floor. There are players that have better leaping abilities and better defensive skill sets, but Peters can take over games in a plethora of ways.

And that’s something very few players in the country can do.

Peters’ legacy at Valpo will include his jaw dropping stats, his help in putting the school on the map and potentially becoming an NBA player down the line. But there will always be a little cloud hanging over his head if he doesn’t help the program win at least a game in the NCAA Tournament.

The goal of every team is to win games in March – on the biggest stage in college hoops with everyone watching.

The Crusaders have the opportunity to do just that because Peters could very well average 20 plus points a game, 10 plus rebounds a game and shoot a high percentage from the field this season. Keith Carter, Darien Walker and David Skara are all gone, but the team still has the services of Tevonn Walker and Shane Hammink.

With former Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew accepting the Vanderbilt job, Matt Lottich is taking over the team. There may be a little adjustment period, but let’s remember that he was on Drew’s staff a year ago and has a strong relationship with their top player.

Continuity and sidekicks are important to creating a positive environment for a superstar, especially at the mid-major level.

Next: Duke, Kentucky to host NBA pro days

Peters is ready to capitalize and take advantage of his loyalty. The Crusaders are a squad to watch out for in 2016-17, and if they find their way onto your television screen, just take two hours to watch the spectacle that is Alec Peters.

Valparaiso Basketball: Alec Peters to capture nation’s heart

By Carmine Carcieri | Sep 19, 2016

Is Alec Peters capable of carrying Valparaiso basketball to the NCAA Tournament?

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