Kyle Alexander Sweepstakes Sizzling, Will Visit Tennessee

2015 6’10” Kyle Alexander will visit the Tennessee Volunteers this Thursday his father Joe told Hoops Hype Canada Tuesday evening.

“We’re going to Tennessee this weekend. We are leaving Thursday.”

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and his assistant flew in to Orangeville, Ontario Monday and met with Alexander’s family then watched him scrimmage and run drills at Athletes Institute.

“They are high on him and excited. Rick Barnes said he thinks Kyle has some tools and does some things you simply can’t teach, not at that height. He says he thinks he can be a really good player but just needs the time in the gym,” Joe Alexander said.

Alexander is a rare prospect with a high ceiling that only started playing competitive organized basketball two years ago. After approaching his father with interest to play late, Kyle attended former Canadian National Team member Bobby Allen‘s Academy before landing with Canadian Prep power Orangeville Prep in September of 2013. Allen who’s forte was on the offensive end mentored Kyle and made up for lost time quickly in his development that Mr. Alexander acknowledges,

“Kyle was new at this, so learning and development with Bobby Allen was huge. Bobby got Kyle started and built confidence in him bringing him along and Kyle made huge strides.” Joe Alexander said.

Now following his second year at Orangeville Prep, a season in which Alexander started every game at center before missing the last two months of the season with a hand injury, depite the injury setback the demand for Alexander continues to sky rocket. However Mr. Alexander admits there is still work to put in,

“This is all still a learning process for him. I think after one year of college under his belt, providing he works hard and puts in the time becoming a gym rat I think he should blossom with confidence and aggressiveness. Upside and potential is only as good you develop it in the end.”

Tennessee will be Alexander’s third official visit after previously visiting St. Bonaventure and Rice University. Western Kentucky, Missouri, Auburn, Dayton and New Mexico are also in the mix for his future college destination.

Kyles father Joe, a 6’5′ former player himself was part of Toronto high school Eastern Commerce’s first ever OFSAA championship in 1982. He later spent four years at Niagara University in Western New York. Alexander’s sister Kayla also plays competitive basketball where she was a standout at Syracuse University, drafted to the WNBA and now makes a handsome salary playing professional ball overseas.

For his son’s college choice Joe Alexander did reiterate a criteria both on and off the court.

“He needs to play somewhat in his freshman year in order to develop. Kyle needs to go to a conference where he can put his skills on display in terms of what he’s good at. He can run the floor really fast, so he needs to get up and down, block shots and rebound,” said Alexander.

In retrospect to a style of play Alexander prefers a conference that is more conducive to Kyle’s strengths,

“An up and down league like the SEC or ACC. I don’t think right now he can fit say in the Big 12, a bang conference with big thick guys down low. That’s not Kyle right now.”

Academically Kyle desires to study film and any program advocating film school gives them an advantage his father admitted,

“Kyle also wants to study film. If they don’t have his program that wouldn’t be a consideration. I go to a movie with him and he’s like Dad do you know how they made that scene, all he talks about is cameras, angles… he seems to be really interested in that stuff.”

According to Mr. Alexander New Mexico who covets Kyle has one of the best film programs in the country. Western Kentucky also boasts a similar program. According to pops Western Kentucky are showering him the most love and is a place where Alexander took an unofficial during the school year,

“Western Kentucky are relentless in a very good way. They have a very high basketball program for sure, developed a lot of pros and has been in the NCAA tournament.”

Regarding the campuses Alexander has already visited, one is out of the race (St. Bonaventure) and the other (Rice) is still in the fold. Rice head coach Mike Rhoades was in Toronto two weeks ago following up,

“I have nothing but positive things to say about them. What’s especially attractive about them is their education, they have sort of an Ivy League education and you can’t beat that. It will prepare you for life after basketball when you tell people you graduated from Rice.”

When Kyle returns from Tennessee the Alexander family will sit down accompanied by his AAU & high school coaches to map out the possibility of utilizing all five of his visits. Auburn, Missouri, New Mexico have all extended invitations to visit and a return to Western Kentucky on an official visit remains an option as well.

“I think it’s critical to finding Kyle the right fit. What I would like have happen at the end of the day is Kyle to have three schools that he tells me he loves and then he can figure out what’s best for him and he can make that final decision,” Alexander said regarding a time table for Kyle’s decision.

Only time will tell where he lands but for now what we do know is Kyle Alexander’s sweepstakes is sizzling. The Milton, ON native selected for the BioSteel All-Canadian game last week is far from a finished product but oozing with potential.

All though sidelined for the BioSteel showcase last week in Toronto for precautionary reasons related to recovering from his hand, Kyle participated in measurements taken for the NBA scouts in attendance. Alexander measured 6’10” without shoes, weighed 202 pounds and had a 7’1″ 3/4 wingspan. Drooling measurements to go along with good hands, soft touch, and above average foot speed that when its all said and done should make Kyle Alexander a high major prospect at the right school.