Photo by Kirby Clarke, TexAgs
The College Station Kid: Alex Caruso as an NBA prospect
Alex Caruso, the 6-5 guard from College Station renowned for his court
vision, has just concluded his meritorious, four-year career at Texas
A&M. Caruso dreamed of playing basketball at A&M as a ball boy
and now leaves with a school record-holding legacy.
In the 2015-16 season Caruso became A&M’s all-time leader for steals and assists, as well as the 35th member of Aggie Basketball’s 1,000-Point Club.
Needless to say, he had one of the most impressive careers in Texas A&M basketball history.
But while Caruso’s time in a Texas A&M uniform is over and he'll certainly be able to forge a strong career overseas, we surely hope this isn’t the end of his basketball-playing days in America.
Last week he signed with agent Greg Lawrence of the Wasserman Agency for representation in upcoming the NBA Draft. And though it seems unlikely for Caruso's name to be called on draft night, many believe that doesn't preclude him from a shot at the big-time.
Caruso is ranked No. 96 on DraftEpxress' top 100 prospects list, just behind known names such as Notre Dame forward Zach Auguste, Kentucky guard Alex Poythress and Wichita State star Fred VanVleet. From the site's extensive draft profile of Caruso:
So, it's not unreasonable for Aggies to expect at least one team to become enamored with Caruso's versatility and unique skill set between now and the June 23 draft — or the days immediately following it — as he continues to prepare in hopes of realizing his dream.
You know ... when he's not chipping in perfect giveaway-a-thon ideas on TexAgs' Student Section board.
Gig 'em, AC.
In the 2015-16 season Caruso became A&M’s all-time leader for steals and assists, as well as the 35th member of Aggie Basketball’s 1,000-Point Club.
Needless to say, he had one of the most impressive careers in Texas A&M basketball history.
But while Caruso’s time in a Texas A&M uniform is over and he'll certainly be able to forge a strong career overseas, we surely hope this isn’t the end of his basketball-playing days in America.
Last week he signed with agent Greg Lawrence of the Wasserman Agency for representation in upcoming the NBA Draft. And though it seems unlikely for Caruso's name to be called on draft night, many believe that doesn't preclude him from a shot at the big-time.
Caruso is ranked No. 96 on DraftEpxress' top 100 prospects list, just behind known names such as Notre Dame forward Zach Auguste, Kentucky guard Alex Poythress and Wichita State star Fred VanVleet. From the site's extensive draft profile of Caruso:
He
has instances when he gambles too often, but his 2.7 steals per 40
minutes pace adjusted rank third behind just Kris Dunn and Gary Payton
II in our database for NCAA prospects. His lateral quickness improved as
a senior and he's slightly stronger, which helps compensate when he's
overmatched athletically. He has supremely quick hands that help him
intercept passes for easy transition baskets. His instincts on the
defensive end are great but he gets distracted on occasion when
defending off-ball. His closeout technique on shooters is innate and
even when he doesn't get credit for a steal, he's seemingly always in
the thick of things when it comes to turnovers. He gobbles loose balls
at an eye-popping rate and forces jump balls regularly.
Overall, Caruso has the size and skill-set to succeed as a backup or third string point guard at the next level. He needs to cut down on his turnovers and continue to improve his shooting to carve out a niche as a big, steady, reliable backup in the pros. Still, he's a player almost any coach would love to have and he has an impressive knack for making winning plays.
While he may not hear his name called on draft night, Caruso is easily the kind of player who could find his way onto a NBA roster and stick for a few years if he's able to catch the right breaks.
Overall, Caruso has the size and skill-set to succeed as a backup or third string point guard at the next level. He needs to cut down on his turnovers and continue to improve his shooting to carve out a niche as a big, steady, reliable backup in the pros. Still, he's a player almost any coach would love to have and he has an impressive knack for making winning plays.
While he may not hear his name called on draft night, Caruso is easily the kind of player who could find his way onto a NBA roster and stick for a few years if he's able to catch the right breaks.
So, it's not unreasonable for Aggies to expect at least one team to become enamored with Caruso's versatility and unique skill set between now and the June 23 draft — or the days immediately following it — as he continues to prepare in hopes of realizing his dream.
You know ... when he's not chipping in perfect giveaway-a-thon ideas on TexAgs' Student Section board.
Gig 'em, AC.
Never miss the latest news from TexAgs!
Join our free email list
