(Keep the votes coming for our preseason Big East poll.)  

Hearing a sports agent say his client will be a “superstar” delivers a significantly softer shock to the system than does news WVU will have a player in the NBA.

Now, Doug Neustadt’s reasons for believing Joe Alexander can be something special are at least worth considering.

“He’s an articulate, smart kid who plays a position that translates well for a shoe company. He plays the three (small forward) – occasionally he’s at the four (power forward), but mostly the three – but most important is that he’s really a dynamic athlete.”

Alexander’s physical abilities and potential project him to be an early to middle first-round pick in the June 26 draft. He’s worked out and could still work out for many of the teams picking between six and 16.

Yet Neustadt believes Alexander’s past might prove to be just as lucrative as his future.

“If you couple (physical tools) with the fact he has a background in Asia and these burgeoning, up-and-coming shoe companies that want to get into the NBA and have gotten in the NBA, the combination could work out very well for Joe,” Neustadt said.

There’s no denying Alexander is one of the best stories in the draft. In fact, he might have the best story. His background and his self-piloted ascent are irresistible if you’re just getting to know them. However, one wonders if his decision to sit out the interview session at the pre-draft camp and to maintain a media silence throughout the process was a good idea.

He’s just so personable and appealing that it seems like a disservice not to take advantage of those opportunities. 

I understand the intent. He was obsessed with his goal and didn’t want anything to divert him. It was a noble idea and maybe it’s unfair to say his stock would be higher had he granted a few interviews. Actually, it’s hard to imagine him being in a better draft position.

Yet this is also about marketing the Alexander brand and he is completely capable of doing that because he is so thoughtful and intelligent, to say nothing of laughably skilled and athletic. You know he’s a fit for a commercial in which he unleashes some silly dunk in a new line of sneakers.

Of course, he has to establish himself before people start throwing money at him. A head start in that area may have helped him steamroll into the draft. The Nikes and Reeboks have their pick of players, though they may very well covet Alexander.

Then again, there’s a lot of money in the Chinese shoe companies, especially when you consider how much they want to be involved. That Alexander is such a logical match is perhaps his best asset and might be used as leverage in some sort of a bidding battle for his services.

Either way, he’s in a great spot for now and for his future.