Cats aim for NBA Draft history

Cats aim for NBA Draft history

By Jerry Tipton / jtipton@herald-leader.com
SEC Mississippi St Kentucky Basketball
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Dave Martin | AP
John Wall, right, celebrated with DeMarcus Cousins after a 75-74 win over Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament in March. Wall is expected to be the first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
SEC Tennessee Kentucky Basketball

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2010 draft order

1. Washington

2. Philadelphia

3. New Jersey

4. Minnesota

5. Sacramento

6. Golden State

7. Detroit Pistons

8. L.A. Clippers

9. Utah

10. Indiana

11. New Orleans

12. Memphis

13. Toronto

14. Houston

15. Milwaukee

16. Minnesota

17. Chicago

18. Miami

19. Boston

20. San Antonio

21. Oklahoma City

22. Portland

23. Minnesota

24. Atlanta

25. Memphis

26. Oklahoma City

27. New Jersey

28. Memphis

29. Orlando

30. Washington

31. New Jersey

32. Oklahoma City

33. Sacramento

34. Golden State

35. Washington

36. Detroit

37. Milwaukee

38. New York

39. New York

40. Indiana

41. Miami

42. Miami

43. L.A. Lakers

44. Portland

45. Minnesota

46. Phoenix

47. Milwaukee

48. Miami

49. San Antonio

50. Dallas

51. Oklahoma City

52. Boston

53. Atlanta

54. L.A. Clippers

55. Utah

56. Minnesota

57. Indiana

58. L.A. Lakers

59. Orlando

60. Phoenix

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Most No. 1 overall picks

For all of its championships and all of its 2,000-plus victories, Kentucky has never had one of its players selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. That should change Thursday night when the Washington Wizards are expected to choose John Wall with the first pick of the 2010 draft. Fourteen schools have produced more than one overall No. 1 pick:

Cincinnati — Kenyon Martin (2000), Oscar Robertson (1960)

Duke — Elton Brand (1999), Art Heyman (1963)

Duquesne — Sihugo Green (1956), Dick Ricketts (1955)

Georgetown — Allen Iverson (1996), Patrick Ewing (1985)

Houston — Akeem Olajuwon (1984), Elvin Hayes (1968)

Indiana — Kent Benson (1977), Walt Bellamy (1961)

Kansas State — Bob Boozer (1959), Howie Shannon (1949)

Maryland — Joe Smith (1995), John Lucas (1976)

Michigan — Chris Webber (1993), Cazzie Russell (1966)

North Carolina — Brad Daugherty (1986), James Worthy (1982)

Purdue — Glenn Robinson (1994), Joe Barry Carroll (1980)

UCLA — Bill Walton (1974), Lew Alcindor (1969),

Utah — Andrew Bogut (2005), Bill McGill (1962)

West Virginia — Rod Hundley (1957), Mark Workman (1952)
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UK players in the NBA Draft

First round

Year Player Pick Team

2006 Rajon Rondo 21 Phoenix

2002 Tayshaun Prince 23 Detroit

2000 Jamaal Magloire 19 Charlotte

1999 Scott Padgett 28 Utah

1998 Nazr Mohammed 29 Utah

1997 Ron Mercer 6 Boston

1997 Derek Anderson 13 Cleveland

1996 Antoine Walker 6 Boston

1996 Tony Delk 16 Charlotte

1996 Walter McCarty 19 New York

1993 Jamal Mashburn 4 Dallas

1988 Rex Chapman 8 Charlotte

1986 Kenny Walker 5 New York

1984 Sam Bowie 2 Portland

1984 Melvin Turpin 6Washington

1979 Kyle Macy 22 Phoenix

1978 Rick Robey 3 Indiana

1978 Jack Givens 16 Atlanta

1975 Kevin Grevey 18 Washington

1967 Pat Riley 7 San Diego

1953 Frank Ramsey 5 Boston

1949 Alex Groza 2Indianapolis

1949 Wah Wah Jones 9 Washington

Second round

2009 Jodie Meeks 41 Milwaukee

2008 Joe Crawford 58 L.A. Lakers

2003 Keith Bogans 43 Milwaukee

1996 Mark Pope 52 Indiana

1994 Rodney Dent 31 Orlando

1983 Dirk Minniefield 33 Dallas

1978 James Lee 39 Seattle

1977 Larry Johnson 24 Buffalo

1975Jimmy Dan Conner36 Phoenix

1964 Cotton Nash 12 L.A. Lakers

1958 Vernon Hatton 10 Cincinnati

1949 Ralph Beard 14 Chicago

Third round

1988 Rob Lock 51L.A. Clippers

1988 Ed Davender 60 Washington

1988 Winston Bennett 64 Cleveland

1983 Derrick Hord 67 Cleveland

1978 Mike Phillips 45 New Jersey

1975 Bob Guyette 49K.C./Omaha

1971 Larry Steele 37 Portland

1966 Tommy Kron 24 St. Louis

1953 Cliff Hagan 13 Boston

Fourth round

1984 Dickey Beal 81 Atlanta

1967 Louie Dampier 38 Cincinnati

1960 Sid Cohen 32 Boston

1959 Johnny Cox 30 New York

1958 Johnny Cox 37 New York

1950 Jim Line 41IndianapolisFifth round

1987 James Blackmon 94 New Jersey

1986 Roger Harden 115 L.A. Lakers

1980 LaVon Williams 101 Cleveland

1968 Thad Jaracz 60 Boston

1961 Billy Ray Lickert 45 L.A. Lakers

1961 Roger Newman 64 Syracuse

1955 Bill Evans 34 Rochester

1949 Cliff Barker 35 Washington

Sixth round

1984 Jim Master 127 Atlanta

1983 Charles Hurt 134 Milwaukee

1981 Fred Cowan 127 Houston

1979 Truman Claytor 111 Detroit

1972 Tom Parker 83 Cleveland

1960 George Newman 48 Boston

Seventh round

1982 Chuck Verderber 145 Chicago

1975 Mike Flynn 113Philadelphia

1973 Jim Andrews 107 Seattle

1960 Bennie Coffman 53 Syracuse

1953 Lou Tsioropoulos 24 Boston

1950 Dale Barnstable 74 Boston

Eighth round

1984 Tom Heitz 163 Indiana

1970 Dan Issel 122 Detroit

1970 Mike Casey 130 Chicago

1962 Larry Pursiful 61 Chicago

Ninth round

1980 Jay Shidler 183 Chicago

1968 Cliff Berger 119 Milwaukee

10th round

1972 Kent Hollenbeck 146 Detroit

1971 Jim Dinwiddle 163Philadelphia

1969 Phil Argento 139 L.A. Lakers

1957 Jerry Calvert 73Philadelphia

13th round

1961 Ned Jennings 102 New York

15th round

1958 Adrian Smith 86 Cincinnati

18th round

1960 Don Mills 92 New York

Other picks

(Round and pick number not available)

1956: Jerry Bird (Minneapolis), Bob Burrow (Rochester), Phil Grawemeyer (Minneapolis). 1952: Bobby Watson (Milwaukee), Lucian Whitaker (Indianapolis). 1948: Joe Holland (Baltimore), Jack Parkinson (Washington), Kenny Rollins (Fort Wayne). 1947: Jack Tingle (Washington).

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Lottery is no guarantee

Kentucky could have as many as five players drafted among the first 14 selections in Thursday's NBA Draft. As the past 10 drafts show, those "lottery picks" — though well-paid — rarely become superstars. And only a couple out of every draft, on average, ever become All-Stars:

2000 draft

Total All-Star appearances (1) — Kenyon Martin (2004).

2010 starters (2) — Kenyon Martin (No. 1), Mike Miller (No. 5).

2010 reserves (4) — Jamal Crawford (No. , Joel Przybilla (No. 9), Keyon Dooling (No. 10), Etan Thomas (No. 12).

Not in NBA ( — Stromile Swift (No. 2), Darius Miles (No. 3), Marcus Fizer (No. 4), DerMarr Johnson (No. 6), Chris Mihm (No. 7), Jerome Moiso (No. 11), Courtney Alexander (No. 13), Mateen Cleaves (No. 14).

2001 draft

Total All-Star appearances (7) — Pau Gasol (2006, 2009-10), Joe Johnson (2007-10).

2010 starters (6) — Pau Gasol (No. 3), Jason Richardson (No. 5), Shane Battier (No. 6), Joe Johnson (No. 10), Richard Jefferson (No. 13), Troy Murphy (No. 14).

2010 reserves (5) — Kwame Brown (No. 1), Tyson Chandler (No. 2), Eddy Curry (No. 4), DeSagana Diop (No. , Vladimir Radmanovic (No. 12).

Not in NBA (3) — Eddie Griffin (No. 7), Rodney White (No. 9), Kedrick Brown (No. 11).

2002 draft

Total All-Star appearances (14) — Yao Ming (2003-09), Amare Stoudemire (2005, 2007-10), Caron Butler (2007-08).

2010 starters (3) — Nene Hilario (No. 7), Amare Stoudemire (No. 9), Caron Butler (No. 10).

2010 reserves (5) — Mike Dunleavy (No. 3), Drew Gooden (No. 4), Chris Wilcox (No. , Jared Jeffries (No. 11), Marcus Haislip (No. 13).

2010 injured reserve (1) — Yao Ming (No. 1).

Not in NBA (5) — Jay Williams (No. 2), Nikoloz Tskitishvili (No. 5), Dajuan Wagner (No. 6), Melvin Ely (No. 12), Fred Jones (No. 14).

2003 draft

Total All-Star appearances (21) — LeBron James (2005-10), Carmelo Anthony (2007-08, 2010), Chris Bosh (2006-10), Dwyane Wade (2005-10), Chris Kaman (2010).

2010 starters (6) — LeBron James (No. 1), Carmelo Anthony (No. 3), Chris Bosh (No. 4), Dwyane Wade (No. 5), Chris Kaman (No. 6), Kirk Hinrich (No. 7).

2010 reserves (7) — Darko Milicic (No. 2), T.J. Ford (No. , Jarvis Hayes (No. 10), Mickael Pietrus (No. 11), Nick Collison (No. 12), Marcus Banks (No. 13), Luke Ridnour (No. 14).

Not in NBA (1) — Mike Sweetney (No. 9).

2004 draft

Total All-Star appearances (5) — Dwight Howard (2007-10), Devin Harris (2009).

2010 starters (6) — Dwight Howard (No. 1), Emeka Okafor (No. 2), Devin Harris (No. 5), Luol Deng (No. 7), Andre Iguodala (No. 9), Andris Biedrins (No. 11).

2010 reserves (4) — Ben Gordon (No. 3), Shaun Livingston (No. 4), Sebastian Telfair (No. 13), Kris Humphries (No. 14).

Not in NBA (4) — Josh Childress (No. 6), Rafael Araujo (No. , Luke Jackson (No. 10), Robert Swift (No. 12).

2005 draft

Total All-Star appearances (4) — Deron Williams (2010), Chris Paul (2008-10).

2010 starters (6) — Andrew Bogut (No. 1), Marvin Williams (No. 2), Deron Williams (No. 3), Chris Paul (No. 4), Raymond Felton (No. 5), Andrew Bynum (No. 10).

2010 reserves (4) — Martell Webster (No. 6), Charlie Villanueva (No. 7), Channing Frye (No. , Sean May (No. 13).

2010 injured reserve (1) — Ike Diogu (No. 9).

Not in NBA (3) — Fran Vasquez (No. 11), Yaroslav Korolev (No. 12), Rashad McCants (No. 14).

2006 draft

Total All-Star appearances (3) — Brandon Roy (2008-10)

2010 starters (6) — Andrea Bargnani (No. 1), LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 2), Brandon Roy (No. 6), Rudy Gay (No. , Thabo Sefolosha (No. 13), Ronnie Brewer (No. 14).

2010 reserves (7) — Adam Morrison (No. 3), Tyrus Thomas (No. 4), Shelden Williams (No. 5), Randy Foye (No. 7), Patrick O'Bryant (No. 9), J.J. Redick (No. 11), Hilton Armstrong (No. 12).

Not in NBA (1) — Mouhamed Sene (No. 10).

2007 draft

Total All-Star appearances (2) — Kevin Durant (2010), Al Horford (2010).

2010 starters (11) — Greg Oden (No. 1), Kevin Durant (No. 2), Al Horford (No. 3), Mike Conley (No. 4), Jeff Green (No. 5), Yi Jianlian (No. 6), Corey Brewer (No. 7), Joakim Noah (No. 9), Spencer Hawes (No. 10), Thaddeus Young (No. 12), Al Thornton (No. 14).

2010 reserves (2) — Acie Law (No. 11), Julian Wright (No. 13).

2010 injured reserve (1) — Brandan Wright (No. .

2008 draft

Total All-Star appearances (1) — Derrick Rose (2010).

2010 starters ( — Derrick Rose (No. 1), Michael Beasley (No. 2), O.J. Mayo (No. 3), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Danilo Gallinari (No. 6), Eric Gordon (No. 7), Brook Lopez (No. 10), Jason Thompson (No. 12).

2010 reserves (6) — Kevin Love (No. 5), Joe Alexander (No. , D.J. Augustin (No. 9), Jerryd Bayless (No. 11), Brandon Rush (No. 13), Anthony Randolph (No. 14).

2009 draft

Total All-Star appearances — None.

2010 starters (5) — Tyreke Evans (No. 4), Jonny Flynn (No. 6), Stephen Curry (No. 7), DeMar DeRozan (No. 9), Brandon Jennings (No. 10).

2010 reserves (7) — Hasheem Thabeet (No. 2), James Harden (No. 3), Jordan Hill (No. , Terrence Williams (No. 11), Gerald Henderson (No. 12), Tyler Hansbrough (No. 13), Earl Clark (No. 14).

2010 injured reserve (1) — Blake Griffin (No. 1).

Not in NBA (1) — Ricky Rubio (No. 5).
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Most first-round selections

Schools to produce the most first-round picks since the NBA Draft was shortened to two rounds in 1989. Listed with number of first-round picks, second-round picks and total picks:

overall

School 1st 2nd Total

North Carolina206 26

Duke1910 29

Connecticut158 23

Arizona1417 31

Kansas148 22

Georgia Tech145 19

UCLA1315 28

Kentucky 11 5 16

Louisville 11 2 13

Michigan106 16

Syracuse106 16

Stanford102 12

Florida96 15

Texas810 18

Michigan State89 17

Memphis86 14

Indiana85 13

UNLV81 9

SEC schools

Kentucky 11 5 16

Florida96 15

Louisiana State77 14

Alabama76 13

Arkansas64 10

Georgia36 9

Mississippi State24 6

Tennessee24 6

Auburn22 4

Mississippi12 3

South Carolina12 3

Vanderbilt05 5

OThers

Ohio State64 10

Cincinnati58 13

W. Kentucky 1 2 3

West Virginia11 2

Murray State 0 3 3

Morehead State 0 2 2

Marshall01 1
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Most first-round picks in same season

Kentucky is projected to place as many as five players in the first round of Thursday's NBA Draft. Three schools have had four first-round picks in the same draft:

Connecticut (2006)

First-round picks — No. 8 Rudy Gay, No. 12 Hilton Armstrong, No. 22 Marcus Williams, No. 23 Josh Boone.

How UConn fared in 2006 — Lost to George Mason in NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and finished season 30-4.

How UConn fared the year after draft picks left — Finished 17-14 and did not qualify for post-season play in 2007.

North Carolina (2005)

First-round picks — No. 2 Marvin Williams, No. 5 Raymond Felton, No. 13 Sean May, No. 14 Rashad McCants.

How UNC fared in 2005 — Won national championship and finished 33-4.

How UNC fared the year after draft picks left — Lost to George Mason in second round of 2006 NCAA Tournament and finished 23-8.

Duke (1999)

First-round picks — No. 1 Elton Brand, No. 11 Trajan Langdon, No. 13 Corey Maggette, No. 14 William Avery.

How Duke fared in 1999 — Lost to Connecticut in NCAA Tournament championship game and finished 37-2.

How Duke fared the year after draft picks left — Lost to Florida in Sweet 16 of 2000 NCAA Tournament and finished 29-5.
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Projecting the NBA's lottery picks

The Sporting News' Sean Deveney includes Kentucky's John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson among the first players chosen:

1. Washington: John Wall, PG, Kentucky

2. Philadelphia: Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State

3. New Jersey: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech

4. Minnesota: Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse

5. Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Kentucky

6. Golden State: Greg Monroe, PF, Georgetown

7. Detroit: Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina

8. L.A. Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest

9. Utah: Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas

10. Indiana: Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor

11. New Orleans: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas

12. Memphis: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky

13. Toronto: Paul George, SF, Fresno State

14. Houston: Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler


John Wall figures to make history Thursday night by becoming the first University of Kentucky player to be the first pick in an NBA Draft. That UK has never produced the first player taken in an NBA Draft surprises Sam Bowie, arguably the most notable Wildcat associated with the draft.

"I just assumed with Kentucky's history and tradition, we'd have had a No. 1 pick," Bowie said last week. "And I take pride in knowing a little about Kentucky basketball."

UK can make another bit of history in Thursday's NBA Draft if former teammates DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe join Wall as first-round selections. No college team has produced more than four first-rounders in a single draft. Three teams have produced four first-rounders in a draft (see chart on Page C4).

If Wall joins Derrick Rose as first players selected, John Calipari can become the fifth college coach who's worked with two overall No. 1 picks. The other coaches are John Thompson (Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson), Dean Smith (James Worthy and Brad Daugherty), John Wooden (Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton) and Guy Lewis (Elvin Hayes and Akeem Olajuwon).

No coach has had three, so that gives Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague something to shoot for.

Bowie made another kind of history in the 1984 draft when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the second overall pick. Of course, what made that selection noteworthy was the third pick, Michael Jordan.

"I used to always joke with him," Bowie said. "If he didn't turn out to be the player he was, I wouldn't have had to hear the ridicule I did."

Bowie forevermore became known as the player Portland took instead of Jordan (and never mind that the Houston Rockets took Akeem Olajuwon with the first overall pick). Injuries, including two broken tibias, curtailed Bowie's career. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and became widely recognized as the greatest player of all time.

In 2006, ESPN's David Schoenfield listed the 100 worst draft picks in any sport. He picked Portland's selection of Bowie as the worst draft decision by any team in any sport.

"Why Bowie?" Schoenfield wrote. "The Blazers were fixated on drafting a center. ... Before the coin flip (to decide which team would make the first selection), Portland was fined $250,000 for improper contact with Olajuwon and Georgetown center Patrick Ewing."

Portland had two all-star caliber players at Jordan's shooting guard position in Jim Paxson and Clyde Drexler. The Blazers needed size.

"They made the right selection," Bowie said. "My only regret I have is I wasn't able to stay healthy and let my career fall as it may."

Schoenfield noted that the Chicago Bulls saw Jordan as something of a consolation prize. Then-Bulls general manager Rod Thorn said of Jordan on draft day, "I only wish he were 7-1."

Bowie always took his place in basketball history with a smile. "Any time you're mentioned, good or bad, with Michael Jordan, it's all good," he said.

But Bowie acknowledged that being repeatedly belittled by comparisons to Jordan took its toll.

"There were times, you're sitting there going through the rehab, and your team is struggling," he said, "and Michael's getting all the accolades he pretty much deserved. And I'd hear commentators and I'd hear beat writers. I mean, I'm human. For me to say that didn't affect me (or) that didn't bother me (his voice trailed off).

"The reason it never broke me down was because that was something I had no control over."

With that, Bowie recalled an ironic moment in his second NBA season. Jordan missed most of the season because of a fracture in his foot.

"A lot of people were saying, 'I'm glad we drafted Bowie instead of Jordan. Jordan is looking like he's injury prone,'" the former UK center said.

Alex Groza, who was drafted in 1949 by the Indianapolis Olympians, is the only other UK player to be taken with the second pick of an NBA Draft.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/20/1315055/cats-aim-for-nba-draft-history.html#ixzz0rUbfbx7b

Dude!



Has to be the longest , most informative post on here in history.

Anyone look at the Fox Sports page today? Nearly every article is about a Kentucky player in some form or fashion. They are dominating the draft talk.