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The ACC did not fare well in the NBA Draft.
Both of the ACC players selected in the first round are one-and-dones from Duke, both of whom had average freshman seasons and both picked primarily on their potential. Dereck Lively II went surprisingly high at No. 12 to the Thunder. Dariq Whitehead was taken 22nd by the Nets.
The ACC got its third draftee with the 37th selection of Clemson shooter Hunter Tyson, also by the Thunder. The Clippers used the 48th pick to nab Miami’s Jordan Miller, who looked better than a late second-rounder. The Pacers took Miller’s teammate and ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong at No. 55.
The SEC, which carried the banner of the best major conference last season, had the most drafted with 10, including the second overall pick. Alabama’s Brandon Miller went to the Hornets and the 21st selection, Noah Clowney, was taken by the Nets. Arkansas also had two first-round picks, plus a second rounder, and Kentucky also had two overall.
The most interesting pick from the SEC was South Carolina’s G.G. Jackson, a one-time lottery prospect when he committed to UNC’s Class of 2024. But then he decommitted, reclassified and signed with the Gamecocks, who went 11-21 and 4-14 in conference play with G.G. as a starter.
Jackson had a pretty awful freshman season in Columbia, averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds and less than one assist (plus 2.7 turnovers), steal and blocked shot per game. His field goal shooting was 38 percent and 32 from 3-point range. Think Jackson has any regrets about the path he chose after being drafted 45th by the Grizzlies, where he’ll be just another talented guy trying to make the team?
Jarin Stevenson, who reclassified and committed to Alabama, could have the same result, because he is a less-heralded prospect and The Tide will be picked in the middle of the SEC race with its losses to the draft.
The Big Ten had the second most players drafted with 8 picks, including two from Michigan in the first round, one of them the coach’s kid Jet Howard.
The relatively few foreigners and no-college guys stole the show. Victor Wembanyama, the 7-5 French phenom, went first overall to the Spurs, and 3 of the top 5 picks came from semi-pro teams on the NBA G-League’s Ignite circuit. By my count, 12 of the total 58 draftees did not go to a U.S. college.
Featured image via Associated Press/John Minchillo
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