By Joseph Staszewski
Rawle Alkins is embracing his new role as one of the most recognizable names and talents in New York City high school basketball.
The Christ the King rising sophomore was virtually an unknown in the five boroughs until late in the Royals’ run to the state Federation Class AA championship last season. The Canarsie native returned from living in Florida to go from junior varsity player to key reserve to arguably the face of Christ the King basketball in less than a year.
So Alkins wasn’t surprised when he was invited to play in the Big Strick Classic last weekend at Gaucho Gym in the Bronx. He called it an honor to be selected. The high school hoops all-star game honoring the memory of streetball legend John Strickland features the best high school boys’ basketball player in the tri-state area against the top talent from around the country. He scored six points in Team New York City’s 126-110 win over Team USA.
“I work hard, man,” Alkins said. “I work out every day. I think I deserve it.”
The 6-foot-4, ultra-athletic wing already has scholarship offers from Fordham, Villanova, Cincinnati and Seton Hall and interest from Notre Dame and Miami. He scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Royals’ Federation title game win over Long Island Lutheran and treated that crowd to a ridiculous reverse dunk in transition that wowed the crowd at the Times Union Center.
Alkins said he would try to take time to pick the brains of Lincoln rising senior Isaiah Whitehead and Loughlin rising senior Khadeen Carrington about what it is like to be a star in New York City. He has enjoyed watching them play and competing alongside them for a weekend and believes that will help him on the court as well.
“I can try to take stuff from their games,” Alkins said.
It’s all in preparation for his expanded role with Christ the King. Alkins is ready to embrace replacing Jon Severe, New York state’s Mr. Basketball, in the Royals’ starting lineup and take on the job as his team’s go-to scorer. It’s something he thinks he has already done this summer while playing at team camps and summer league. He hopes for similar results for CK as Severe provided.
“I expect more from me,” Alkins said. “My take for basketball this year is just taking my team to another championship.”
