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Arizona Basketball: Rawle Alkins leaving NBA Draft to return to Wildcats

By Andrew Nostvick

Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) signals to his teammates as they play against the Xavier Musketeers during the first period in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) signals to his teammates as they play against the Xavier Musketeers during the first period in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Wildcats received a big boost with Rawle Alkins announcing his intention to return to the program next season.

A change of heart can be a good thing.

For the Arizona Wildcats, it’s a great thing.

Freshman guard Rawle Alkins announced Sunday afternoon that he will leave the NBA Draft and return to the Wildcats for another season. Alkins announced his decision on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Iam_RawleAlkins/status/866406551552229376

In the Twitter post, Alkins said he learned a lot from the NBA Draft experience. However, it appears that the desire is there to help Arizona win a National Title.

Alkins had declared for the draft in April, but he hadn’t signed with an agent.

The announcement is obviously very good news for head coach Sean Miller and the Wildcats’ program. Next season’s team is going to be a loaded one.

With Alkins returning, the Wildcats will be a very tough team to face next season. Arizona already had Allonzo Trier set to return.

Because of the returning players, the Wildcats are ranked high in the preseason polls — and that’s without Lauri Markkanen who is still in the NBA Draft.

With both Alkins and Trier on the court, it will be hard to pick anyone but Arizona to win the Pac-12 next season. It won’t be easy with that backcourt tandem.

In his freshman season, Alkins finished third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.9 points in 37 games this season.

Additionally, Alkins finished fourth on the team in both rebounding (4.9 boards per game) and assists (2.1 per game).

Next: Trier returning to Arizona for junior season

Thanks to Alkins’ contributions, the Wildcats went 32-5 (16-2 in the Pac-12) in 2016-17. Arizona won both (a share of) the Pac-12 regular season and the conference tournament title.

The Wildcats got the No. 2 seed in the West region in this year’s NCAA Tournament. They lost 73-71 in the regional semifinal to Xavier.

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