Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Alexander gets Spartanized

6-foot-3 Dylan Alexander has been a points producer since seemingly forever at Weston Ranch High. With his prep eligibility now completed, he has decided to take his skills set to San Jose State University (SJSU) and the Mountain West Conference.

At 18.1 points per game as a senior in the 2012-13 season, Alexander continued to work the scoreboard. That resulted in a certain coach retaining interest despite a change of location and Alexander made the call to become a recruited walk-on with the Spartans.

So why the choice of SJSU?

"The coaching staff was completely honest with me and I had a sense of comfortability," Alexander explained. "Jack Kennedy was recruiting me when he was at USF, so I was familiar with him (when Kennedy moved from The Hilltop to Washington Square to become an assistant under new Spartan Coach Dave Wojcik)."

Wojcik has a senior, two juniors plus a sophomore on his returnee roster and now has added a junior college transfer plus a bevy of high school prospects, with all but one being backcourters.

Despite possessing the always-needed skill to connect from long range,  Alexander isn't just a one trick pony.

"I was a main scorer in high school but with club basketball I wasn't 'the guy' so it helped in my ability to make plays passing, along with my shooting." Alexander was a member of the Lakeshow Pump-n-Run squad of late and earlier a Bay Area Hoosier.

He also noted "my basketball IQ is one of my better skills."

Hoosier Coach Philippe Doherty was prolific in his praise of Alexander: "Dylan should be confident going to the next level because he is a smart, talented young player with his best years ahead of him and comes from one of the most supportive, intelligent, focused, and grounded families I have ever dealt with. He is young for his class but a bouncy athlete who can score the basketball. The ability to put the basketball in the hole is vital and Dylan can do that. That skill set will translate immediately at the next level. Dylan is a prototypical 2 guard who also has the ability to put it on the floor. He also has the ability to guard you and if he does that consistently he will have a chance to make an impact at the next level."

From his discussions with the SJSU coaching staff, it looks like he'll be positioned as a two guard/wing as "they will be running a lot of four guard sets."  

Asked to compare his situation as a freshman vis-a-vis where he is now, Alexander recalled his underclassman days when "I would talk at teammates, not talk to them." A transformation of that aspect of communication has now blossomed into his positive leadership.

He noted his biggest basketball influence as being 'my big brother." Come September, Griffin Alexander will be entering his senior year as a backcourter at UC Merced. Utilizing discretion as the better part of valor, no inquiry was made as to who currently rules the family's Stockton homecourt.

Alexander is planning on majoring in kinesology.

He wished to "thank my family for being there for me" plus "Ruben Luna (who was a coach and now is a trainer for Alexander), Coach Phil Doherty and Coach Chris Teevan (at Weston Ranch) for their assistance along the way."

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