In the same arena where his professional future will be determined Thursday at the NBA draft, Collin Sexton helped spawn the narrative that has made him such an intriguing pro prospect. It was back in November at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, when Alabama faced Minnesota in a holiday tournament, that Sexton authored a heroic performance in defeat.

On the night of the Iron Bowl, with few in this state watching, Sexton nearly engineered a comeback victory despite playing alongside only two other teammates. A couple of scuffles, a slew of ejections and one disqualification resulting from foul trouble conspired to create a three-on-five contest and one of the strangest sporting episodes in recent memory.

"It was one of the most entertaining games of the year simply because of, you know, how Collin Sexton battled and he just wouldn't give in," said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.

It was a display of sheer will, in fact. In the 89-84 loss, Sexton scored 19 of his 40 points after his team disintegrated. Powering the Tide with the kind of chutzpah celebrated in the New York borough where he was on this day, he sliced a double-digit deficit to as little as three points when he produced a layup with 99 seconds left in regulation. During the game, he attempted 16 free throws -- a number that was a testament to his eagerness to crash the goal and absorb contact. This was quintessential Sexton, a 6-foot-2 guard who played with tenacity throughout his only season at Alabama.

"He's fearless attacking the basket," said Bobby Marks, a former NBA assistant general manager who works for ESPN. "And he may be -- this is something that's harder to quantify, but he may be the most competitive kid in the draft. He's a real fighter, and I think is going to make an excellent NBA point guard in time."

At Alabama, Sexton developed a reputation for his diligence, devoting countless hours toward perfecting his craft.

He was obsessive and relentless, choosing solitary drillwork over fun with the guys.

"Here's a kid we gotta basically to turn the lights out in the gym sometimes and say, 'Go back to the dorm,'" Crimson Tide coach Avery Johnson said.

Sexton's ambition was reflected in his style of play. Despite being a point guard, he was not merely a facilitator. He aimed to score and would routinely drive into the heart of the paint to realize that goal.

Even though he missed three games, Sexton attempted 75 more foul shots than any other player on Alabama's roster.

Along the way toward averaging 19.2 points per game, he was hit, poked and slapped by men much bigger than him. He hurt his eye against Rhode Island and had his chin bloodied against Kentucky.

"He's strong and he plays strong, and he's maybe the most competitive player in the draft in terms of being a willing defender," Marks said. "He doesn't shy away from contact."

The question is whether Sexton and his slight frame can withstand the rigors of an NBA season, which is packed 82 regular-season games and potentially many more in the playoffs.

During the SEC schedule, Sexton was briefly derailed by an abdominal injury. It was the only significant setback he encountered at Alabama, where he developed into Johnson's first and only one-and-done star.

"I have no concerns about Collin Sexton's durability," Bilas said. "He's not the biggest guy out there. It's not like he's a 6-7 guard or a Magic Johnson size or something. But, you know, in today's game where it's not clutch-and-grab like it used to be, where, you know, it was just a foul fest all the time and you had to have the body of a linebacker to make it through. You know, I think he's going to be just fine."

Bilas has arrived at that conclusion, in part, because of what he witnessed during that game against Minnesota.

Outmanned, Sexton showed all the qualities -- grit, intrepidness and skill -- that have convinced many that he'll have staying power in the NBA.

"I think it was just another data point that shows that there's not any quit in Collin Sexton, that he's really competitive," Bilas said, "and he will fight you from start to finish...So, if it ever breaks out to a three-on-three game, I'm picking him."

Rainer Sabin is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @RainerSabin