Rawle Alkins is comfortable being the new face of New York City boys’ basketball, and up to the challenge as well.
The Canarsie native and Christ the King junior guard has claimed the mantle of the city’s most sought-after recruit with Isaiah Whitehead now at Seton Hall. The 6-foot-5 Alkins had a huge summer, gaining scholarship offers from Louisville, Indiana, Providence, North Carolina State, Miami, and Kansas, and has more than a dozen overall.
Royals coach Joe Arbitello could see a new demeanor in Alkins when he returned to Middle Village.
“He’s been on a different level,” he said. “He’s been playing great. He is leading our guys. He is playing hard, shooting it well. He’s ready.”
Alkins, a top-30 recruit nationally, proved that as he led Christ the King to an 87–56 victory over St. Rita (Ill.) at the Chicago Elite Classic last Saturday. He tallied 28 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Alkins did so while playing against University of Kentucky recruit Charles Matthews, the No. 11-ranked prospect in his class. Matthews had 16 points. Alkins’ highlight reel from the night includes dunks over defenders, three-pointers, steals and getting the Royals going in transition.
It was exactly the type of role Alkins said he would take on in the preseason — and the way you’d want New York City basketball represented when teams go out of state This is his team now with the graduation of seniors Adonis De La Rosa, Andre Walker, and Travis Atson transferring to South Kent. His teammates have embraced him as their leader.
“They are all expecting that Rawle is the best player,” Arbitello said. “Nobody is trying to be Rawle Alkins. They know he is the best player. Everyone else is finding their time to play.”
Alkins was groomed for this. He was brought up late as a freshmen and made an impact in limited minutes and particularly flourished late last season to lead Christ the King to its second-straight Catholic and state Federation Class AA titles. His time is now as the Royals look for a historic three-peat of Federation crowns.
“It’s just the beginning,” Alkins said. “If we keep progressing like we are now I don’t think anyone can keep up with us.”
His confidence is what sets him apart. He expects to win and expects to dominate, and usually makes both happen. When he was younger, sometimes that confidence manifested in bold predications of guaranteed victories, including in last year’s city title game against Bishop Loughlin.
So far this year, with the Royals lacking experienced size, it is Alkins volunteering to defend players who are five or six inches taller than him. It’s all part of his maturity and development into the player and person you thought he could be when he came onto the scene as a sophomore. Anytime Alkins is on the court now he’s the leader, the face of the Christ the King program and of New York City basketball. The mantle is in good hands.
