Honestly, if you only look at the raw numbers of the Collin Sexton college stats page, you are missing about 90% of the story. On paper, it looks like a really solid one-and-done season. 19.2 points per game. 3.6 assists. SEC Freshman of the Year. It’s great, sure. But stats in a vacuum don't tell you about the time he literally played a 3-on-5 game and almost won.
That’s not a typo.
Sexton’s 2017-18 season at Alabama was basically a high-speed car chase in basketball form. He was the "Young Bull," a nickname he earned because he played every possession like he was trying to run through a brick wall. Most freshmen take a few weeks to adjust to the physicality of the SEC. Sexton? He was the one dealing out the bruises from day one.
Breaking Down the Collin Sexton College Stats
When you dive into the box scores from that lone season in Tuscaloosa, the first thing that jumps out is the sheer volume of his production. He wasn't just a cog in the machine; he was the machine for Avery Johnson's Crimson Tide.
In 33 games, he averaged:
- Points: 19.2
- Rebounds: 3.8
- Assists: 3.6
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.7%
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.6%
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.8%
He ended the year with 632 total points. That wasn't just good for a freshman; it was the third-highest single-season total in Alabama history at the time, trailing only legends like Michael Ansley. He also set the school record for free throws made in a season with 196. If you watched him play, you knew why. He lived in the paint. He invited contact. He’d scream after an "and-one" and stare down the entire opposing bench.
The Game Nobody Can Forget: Alabama vs. Minnesota
You can't talk about Collin Sexton college stats without talking about November 25, 2017. Alabama was playing Minnesota in the Barclays Center. A massive brawl broke out, and the entire Alabama bench was ejected. Then, Dazon Ingram fouled out. Then, John Petty Jr. went down with an injury.
Suddenly, Alabama had three players on the court. Minnesota had five.
Most teams would have just folded. It’s 3-on-5! You can't even play zone defense effectively with three people. But Sexton went into a different dimension. He scored 40 points in that game. 23 of those points came after the mass ejection. At one point, he led a 3-on-5 comeback that cut the lead to just three points with a minute left. Alabama eventually lost 89-84, but that game became the definitive "Collin Sexton moment." It showed the world that his competitive engine was bordering on pathological.
SEC Dominance and the Postseason Push
As the season rolled into conference play, the Collin Sexton college stats reflected a player who knew he had to carry the load. He had 29 double-digit scoring games. He hit the 20-point mark 16 times.
But where he really made his money was the SEC Tournament.
In the opening game against Texas A&M, he didn't just play well—he hit a coast-to-coast buzzer-beating layup to save Alabama’s season. He followed that up with 31 points to demolish the #1 seed Auburn. By the time Alabama lost to Kentucky in the semis, Sexton had averaged 26.3 points over three games. He was a one-man wrecking crew who practically dragged a bubble team into the NCAA Tournament by their jerseys.
Efficiency vs. Usage
Some critics back then pointed at his 33.6% shooting from deep or his 2.8 turnovers per game. They'd say he was a "ball stopper." But look at the context. Alabama didn't have a secondary shot creator who could consistently beat people off the dribble. Sexton’s usage rate was sky-high because it had to be.
His 23.5 PER (Player Efficiency Rating) shows that despite the heavy workload, he remained remarkably effective. He wasn't just empty calories; he was a high-octane engine. When he was on the floor, Alabama played like a Top 25 team. When he sat, things got dicey.
The Legacy of the 2018 Season
Sexton’s time in college was short, but it changed the trajectory of the program. Before he arrived, Alabama basketball felt like a secondary thought to the football powerhouse across the street. Sexton made it "must-see TV."
He finished his college career with one last strong showing in the Big Dance. He dropped 25 points and 6 assists in a win over Virginia Tech, giving the Tide their first tournament victory in 12 years. Even in the season-ending loss to a juggernaut Villanova team, he led the Tide with 17 points.
He didn't leave many "what ifs" on the table. He came, he scored, and he conquered the SEC.
How to use these stats for your own analysis
If you’re comparing Sexton to current NBA prospects or just looking back at the 2018 draft class, keep these takeaways in mind:
👉 See also: University of Maryland Football Schedule: Why the 2026 Slate Changes Everything
- Free Throw Rate is King: Sexton’s ability to get to the line (7.6 attempts per game) is the best indicator of his NBA success. It showed he had the frame and the "want-to" to handle pro-level physicality.
- The "Clutch" Factor: Don't just look at the 19.2 PPG. Look at the 26.3 PPG in the SEC Tournament. He played better when the stakes were higher.
- Off-Ball Growth: In college, he was 90% on-ball. In the NBA, he’s had to learn to play off it. If you're scouting similar players, check if they have the shooting mechanics to eventually transition into a secondary scoring role.
To get a better sense of how he stacks up today, you can compare his Alabama shooting splits with his current NBA percentages to see how much his 3-point shot has actually leveled up since leaving Tuscaloosa.
Next Step: Take a look at the current SEC scoring leaders and compare their "True Shooting Percentage" to Sexton's 56.7% mark from 2018. It’ll give you a great perspective on just how efficient he was despite the massive defensive attention he drew every night.