Phoenix Suns Big Board 3.0: Top 10 prospects

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With the NCAA tournament just a few days away, the Phoenix Suns should evaluate the top talent before the college postseason play begins.

The regular season of college basketball is over and the NCAA tournament is about to begin. Every team has gone through the regular season and their respective conference tournaments. Now before the “Big Dance” begins, Phoenix Suns‘ general manager Ryan McDonough needs to evaluate the top prospects. This third incarnation of the top 10 players big board has a primary focus of best player available versus fit.

No. 10

Previous ranking: Not Ranked

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t in the last edition of this big board, he was ranked ninth in the first one. The Kentucky freshmen averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 blocks and 1.6 steals, while making 48.5 percent of his field goal attempts and 39.6 percent of his 3-point attempts. Gilgeous-Alexander is a big point guard with playmaking skills, defensive potential and outside shooting that makes him an interesting prospect. His 2.6 turnovers per game is concerning, but he’s still a well balanced point guard that the Suns need.

No. 9

Previous ranking: No. 8

There’s something about Collin Sexton‘s style of play that has an Eric Bledsoe flavor to it. Comparing their college averages will help clarify the comparison. Lets start with Sexton’s stats.

Per Game Table
Season	School	Conf	G	GS	MP	FG%	2P%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2017-18	Alabama	SEC	31	30	29.8	.444	.488	.344	.782	3.8	3.5	0.9	0.1	2.6	2.4	19.0
Career	Alabama		31	30	29.8	.444	.488	.344	.782	3.8	3.5	0.9	0.1	2.6	2.4	19.0

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/13/2018.

Bledsoe was able to boast similar averages in his lone college season as well.

Per Game Table
Season	School	Conf	G	GS	MP	FG%	2P%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2009-10	Kentucky	SEC	37	35	30.3	.462	.516	.383	.667	3.1	2.9	1.4	0.3	3.0	2.2	11.3
Career	Kentucky		37	35	30.3	.462	.516	.383	.667	3.1	2.9	1.4	0.3	3.0	2.2	11.3

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/13/2018.

While Sexton’s a much more explosive scorer than Bledsoe was, the other stats between the two are similar enough. The Sun’s should realize that having a Bledsoe copy hasn’t worked well on the court with Devin Booker. With that being said, if Sexton is the best player on the board when the Suns’ pick comes up, they should consider trading the pick before selecting Sexton.

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