INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Cavaliers notebook after they selected Collin Sexton in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday:

1. The Cavs are likely to have George Hill on the roster next season. The veteran point guard has $19 million left on his contract, and that makes him difficult to trade -- even if LeBron James leaves for another team.

2. Having Hill could be a benefit for Sexton. The new point guard is only 19 years old. Hill can start, and the Cavs can bring Sexton off the bench to supply energy as he learns the NBA game.

3. Sexton was a 5-star recruit and a McDonald's All-American when he enrolled at Alabama less than a year ago. He was ranked the No. 6 recruit in the country by ESPN and Scout, and No. 7 by Rivals. At 6-foot-2, Sexton won the McDonald's Slam Dunk Contest in 2017. He is physically gifted and athletic. If the NBA had allowed high school players into the draft, odds are Sexton would have turned pro a year ago.

4. Playing a season for Alabama under coach Avery Johnson helped him. Johnson is a former NBA point guard and coach. He tends to be a disciplinarian, and that also should be good preparation for Sexton. Even though Sexton was likely to turn pro, he did well enough in school to make the SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll. According to the Alabama basketball website, Sexton had a 4.0 grade point average. He was taking business courses.

5. Cavs general manager Koby Altman told the media that Sexton really caught their attention in the SEC tournament. They saw Sexton in person several times before that, but the postseason grabbed their attention: "He was incredible, and we said, 'If this guy is available, we really need to consider him.' "

6. In the SEC tournament, Sexton averaged 26.3 points, shooting 53 percent in three games. In two NCAA tournament games, he averaged 21 points, shooting 50 percent.

7. In an NCAA tournament loss to national champion Villanova, Sexton shot 7-of-14 from the field for 17 points. He had four rebounds and three assists.

8. In two games against Kentucky (loaded with pro talent), Sexton shot 10-of-25 (40 percent), scoring 33 points. He led Alabama to its first NCAA appearance since 2012, and it's first NCAA tournament victory (86-83 over Virginia Tech) since 2006. Alabama is not a basketball school. Sexton averaged 19.2 points for the Tide, and no one else averaged more than 10 points.

9. Sexton has to work on his 3-point shooting -- and medium-range jumpers. He shot only .336 from behind the 3-point line, and it dropped to .242 in SEC games. He is a 78 percent shooter from the foul line. In 16 SEC games, he averaged 7.0 free throws per game. His driving to the rim puts pressure on the defense.

10. Altman said Sexton's shot "looked a lot better" in the workouts the Cavs had with him. That could be true. In general, young players improve their shooting once they come into the pros.

11. Altman has been looking for players "who want to be here" since his mid-season trades where the Cavs added Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood and Hill. The goal also is to get younger. Sexton is another move in that direction.

12. Altman said: "He has a great attitude and work ethic. He wants to be here. He exploded out of the phone (when told he was drafted by the Cavs)."

13. Altman stressed the Cavs have "every expectation of keeping" Sexton. Before the draft, there were rumors of the Cavs possibly trading for veteran Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker. It would be natural for Sexton to be a part of that deal.

14. A trade for Walker is a risk because he can be a free agent after the 2018-19 season. The Cavs also seem sold on "developing" Sexton, as Altman mentioned.

15. Altman didn't want to discuss the decision to pass on Michael Porter Jr. The 19-year-old Missouri forward had back surgery last season and dropped to No. 14, picked by Denver. He was rated No. 1 in the same high school class as Sexton.

16. Altman stressed the Cavs "didn't want to over-think it" when it came time to pick at No. 8. They needed a young point guard. They had Sexton rated highly. He was available -- just take him.

17. Altman said Sexton "has a chip on his shoulder ... he was not given anything ... Avery Johnson praised his basketball I.Q. and how much film he watched ... you feel people ... you'll feel (good) about this kid."