2024 NBA Draft: Trey Alexander Coming Into Form as Potential Lottery Pick
The Creighton Bluejays have began the 2023-24 season fairly strongly, amassing a solid 9-3 record behind efforts from possible NBA Draft picks Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman, as well as a possible fringe lottery pick in Trey Alexander.
As conference play nears, the Bluejays' resume is not particularly striking. But with its incredible tournament run a season ago to the Elite Eight, a 24-13 overall record and multiple returning starters — including each of those three players listed — this could be another promising season for Creighton.
But here specifically, we'll highlight Alexander's impact on this experienced Bluejays team, and how exactly that might translate to the NBA should he depart for the draft next season.
Trey Alexander (Guard | Creighton Bluejays)
6'4" | 190 lbs
Season Stats: 15.7 PPG | 6.9 RPG | 4.3 APG | 41.6% FG | 28.1 % 3PT | 81.0% FT
© William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Elevated Scoring Prowess
Alexander's proficiency as a scorer has been a bit more balanced in terms of consistency early along in the year.
A year ago, he was continually hovering around the 10-to-15 points per game mark in the months of October to December — where he broke that normalcy in a Christmas game against Depaul — notching 32 points on 69% shooting in the win last December.
12 games into 2023-24, and he's already accounted for six 20-plus point scoring outings in Creighton's nine wins.
While we may know Alexander's ability to pick his shots meticulously, and drill them from the 10-to-12 foot range at a very high clip, he also has become a more aggressive initiator at the rim with the ball in his hands.
Seeing how he's becoming an even more proficient finisher through contact and an increasingly comfortable decision maker as a facilitator on the interior — his 15.7 points per game are seeming to come even easier than his 13.6 points a game the season prior, even despite his lesser 3-point shooting efficiency.
Alexander's mid-range excellence and shot selection is certainly NBA ready, with his mature pace setting the tone for his offensive play style — but his improved tenacity as a 6-foot-4 playmaker around the rim could boost him into that late lottery selection.
Above all, though, he will need to improve upon his regressed 28.1% shooting from distance, and return to his 41.0% form from a year ago as a reliable catch-and-shoot guy.
Alexander's Defensive Upside
The upside defensively has retained Alexander's potential spot within the lottery. As without it, could prove as a liability for a 6-foot-4 wing defending in the NBA containing big-time wing producers who may be longer, taller and more physical than him.
But the more he gets these college repetitions, the more he'll be accustomed in his arrival to the league. And that's been shown among his stats as well.
Within his 35.2 minutes a game this year, Alexander has upped his defensive rating by nearly four, from 99.8 last season to 95.9 currently. Additionally, his effort as a defensive rebounder has skyrocketed, going from a 13.8 to 19.8 defensive rebounding percentage within a year — as well as an improved block rate.
Compiled with those statistics, Alexander possesses the mobility, leverage and length to combat, or at least suppress, the modern day NBA wing. The only glaring defensive downside might come in his lack of athleticism and explosiveness, but his size more than makes up for that.
When he entered the NBA Draft Combine following his sophomore campaign, he was within the top six of guards who held the largest wingspan in the combine — two of those being Ausar and Amen Thompson.
Alexander certainly fits the mold — and if he continues to progress through March — he could find himself close to the back end of the lottery in 2024.
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