Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Reigning NCAA Champion Kansas has 2 first-round picks for the 1st time Since 2014
By JACOB POLACHECK
For the first time since 2014, the Kansas Jayhawks had two players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night.
First, it was 6-foot-5 guard Ochai Agbaji, who went No. 14 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Agbaji averaged 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 47.5 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three during the 2021-22 season. He was a crucial piece in the Jayhawks’ 2022 national title run, earning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
“First off, I just want to thank the organization and Cleveland for drafting me, believing in me,” Agbaji said. “I’m going to give you 110 percent every single day and a positive attitude. That’s really all. I’m just going to be a hard worker, come in, be humble and represent my city well.”
Shortly after Agbaji went off the board, the Denver Nuggets selected KU guard Christian Braun at No. 21 overall.
Braun averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists during the 2021-22 season. He shot 54.5 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from three-point range.
The last time Kansas had two players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft was 2014 when Andrew Wiggins went No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Joel Embiid went No. 3 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers.
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