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Alex O’Connell’s move to Creighton was presumably because they could use a sharpshooting wing who could help out with three point shooting.
Unfortunately for the former Blue Devil, they now have two of them: Rati Andronikashvili, from Tbilisi, Georgia, is a 6-5 guard who sounds like he has some real overlap with O’Connell but with better ball handling skills and perhaps a better shooter as well. He committed to Creighton on Thursday.
O’Connell will have the advantage of experience - he will be a senior whether he plays for Creighton this year or next (proposed NCAA changes could allow him to play this year if they go through) - but Andronikashvili sounds like real competition. Here’s what he says about coming to the States: “Playing with the national team was an incredible experience. Competing with those guys, most of whom are NBA and Euroleague players, will really help my transition. I won’t be a typical freshman because I’ve played with older players and got real minutes.”