Alex Wilkins Journey to Furman
For Alex Wilkins, basketball is more than just a sport. It has brought countless opportunities and experiences that some could only wish for.
I recently got the chance to talk with him and learn more about what has helped him to play at the division one level. Wilkins has seen huge success at the Brooks School and also on a well established Middlesex Magic team playing in the UAA circuit.
He started his career off as a freshman at Milton High School, and after his first season he ended up getting in contact with coach Hugh Coleman and was convinced to reclassify and play for Charlestown.
During his two years on that squad, Wilkins saw a ton of success which led to the question of looking to join a team within the NEPSAC. Since then the rest is history and he has been lighting it up the past two seasons at The Brooks School under Kenya Jones. This article will focus on his journey and development to be an instant impact freshman at Furman next season.
Basketball always has run in Alex’s family: “I have a bunch of uncles that ended up going to college and playing overseas” which he explained helped him to “pick up a basketball at a young age.” Being surrounded by family members that knew the value of the sport allowed him to easily fall in love and want to compete at a high level.
“Dad and mom were great growing up” which for him was very important in developing his game. He said “they put me in all the rec leagues” and he also explained how he and his “dad spent countless nights when [he] was younger dribbling the ball in the basement with tennis balls and getting shots up early in the morning.”
His AAU career started when he “played for expressions from third grade to seventh grade.” During his seventh grade season “On mothers day, I ended up breaking my leg.”
This was a major setback for him as he was starting to pick up his play and receive more attention. “That kinda put me under the radar and people started to sleep on me” which is typical when any athlete has a major injury.
Once his freshman year began, “I was still under the radar” and he was looking to make a name for himself at Milton High School. Then Covid ended up hitting at the end of that season and Alex had mixed feelings about where he wanted to play.
“I ended up getting in contact with coach Hugh Coleman” who he describes as “a mentor to me.” Coleman presented Alex with the idea of “transferring to Charlestown and doing a reclass year.” He ultimately decided that this would be the best path for him in order to see success in the future.
During his freshman year at Charlestown “I didn't play much” but he really focused on his development and how to get better during this time. He made a lot of things routine, “from 6am workouts to pool workouts to lifting to your mindset”, it all has helped him to get to the point he is at now.
Once his sophomore season began it was a much different story from the season before. “I ended up growing from 5 '10 to 6' 2” which helped to make huge strides in his game.
He explains his sophomore season as the year his skills got better: “I started to get taller, and I started to get into my game.” This ultimately leads to more confidence while playing the sport he loves. This also propelled him to averaging 16 points on a talented Charlestown squad his sophomore year.
The summer after this season was a huge turning point in Wilkins career. He was working out at Emmanuel College and he met Ikenna who was a Brooks School alumni. “He introduced me to prep school, which I was not a fan of” and this is because of the passion he had for his Charlestown team. He wanted to win a state championship with them, but Ikenna enticed him to go NEPSAC, explaining “that championship is bigger.”
Once he stepped on campus for a visit, Alex knew that The Brooks School was the place he wanted to call home. “I really liked the campus and I really liked the people” were his thoughts when he walked away.
“He bet on me when no one else wanted to give me an opportunity” and it was certainly a well made bet for Kenya Jones, his head coach.
Wilkins again had another growth spurt, getting to 6’5 by the time he officially stepped foot on their campus. In his first year he “averaged 20” and his team “went to the Class B semifinals and lost by one to Rivers” which helped him to grow both on and off the court.
After that game, Holy Cross Head Coach Dave Paulsen approached Alex and praised him for having a good game. This led to a crucial phone call between Paulsen and Middlesex Magic Director Michael Crotty.
“I watched this guard on the Brooks School, I don't know too much about him, but I watched him play once and if you need a point guard you should reach out” is the words that Paulson left for Crotty that day.
Spencer Mirken is another person that has helped to put Alex on the map. He was an assistant at Keene State when he received film for the guard out of Brooks. His reaction was “This kid is not a D3 player.” This prompted him to text Crotty and say “this is a kid you should look into.” This was now two people calling the magic to help Alex get a spot on a good aau team.
Once he got onto his Middlesex Magic team his game only started to elevate. “We had an amazing summer” which helped to lead Alex to earning 25 division 1 scholarships which he explains “is huge for my family.”
Going into this past season, “I was at a run and I ended up breaking my wrist” which caused him to have to miss the first eight games of the season. He did not let this get in his way.
This past basketball season for Wilkins and his Brooks squad was nothing short of amazing. He averaged 25 points and was the catalyst for his team's offense all season. Going into the NEPSAC Class B playoffs they were ranked six and looking to make noise.
Alex’s playoff run was one for the books. He led his team through the first two rounds before hitting the game winning shot at the buzzer against a tough Rivers team to secure a championship that he dreamed of winning.
After fighting through two injuries “Everybody forgot about me and said I was decent” but this forced Alex to “work on my game and get better” so that he could prove everyone wrong.
To switch over to his AAU team, Alex was part of a stacked backcourt. “I tell everybody that we probably had the wings in New England” which allowed him to utilize his playmaking more.
Playing with Ryder Frost, Ryan Altman, and Daithi Quinn allowed Alex to “put his playmaking on display” while also allowing him to showcase his “defending and passing” which he does not need to focus on when playing for the Brooks School. The two different dynamics helped to make him a smarter player while also developing all of the skills he possesses.
The competition in NEPSAC and in the Under Armour circuit didn’t seem like much of a drop off for Alex. “Everybody plays the game the right way at a high level” which he explains has helped to develop his game even further.
“I score the ball mostly for my high school team, but for UA I was able to show my passing and defending” which was pivotal to him reaching 25 division 1 offers by the end of the season.
When asked about his biggest strength on the court, Alex said “shooting.” He can light it up from anywhere on the floor and his craftiness allows him to get to his spot with ease.
At the end of the day Alex enjoys the family atmospheres that his teams have provided him in the past and wanted to have that same feel at the next level. “Furman provided that family environment for me” which was the catalyst in his decision.
He also noted that “The plan they have for me is very set in stone” for him to be able to see early success next year.
His advice to the next generation, “Stay off social media.” He says “Don't compare yourself to other people” because the work is going to show if you put it in.
Alex’s journey has been nothing short of amazing, and he is living proof that hard work and dedication can help you to reach your dreams.
Alex Wilkins
Daithi Quinn
Ryan Altman
Ryder Frost