CHAPEL HILL – Two of UNC’s 2012 NBA draft picks can be glad they made the jump to the next level for the honors they pulled in their first year on the professional hardcourt.
Golden State’s Harrison Barnes was named to this year’s NBA All-Rookie First Team; Cleveland’s Tyler Zeller was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.
Golden State took down Denver in the first round of the playoffs and is down 3-2 to San Antonio in the conference semifinals. Barnes is contributing more than 25 minutes a game and averaging nearly ten points and four rebounds per game. He’s hit a stride in the postseason and is averaging nearly 17 points per contest in almost 40 minutes per game.
Zeller’s Cavaliers didn’t make it to the post season with their 24-58 record. However the former Tar Heel averaged just short of eight points per game in 26 minutes of action per contest. He also pulled down an average of nearly six rebounds per game.
The two other 2012 draftees, John Henson and Kendall Marshall have been getting some fair playing time and contributing well to their respective teams. Henson scored six points for Milwaukee per contest this season in more than 13 minutes a game. He too got to see the postseason, but not for long as Miami swept the series 4-0.
Marshall got some quality minutes at the point for Phoenix, which finished last in the Western Conference at 25-57. He averaged just more than 14.5 minutes, three points, and three assists per outing.
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