For the first since the NBA Draft was reduced from seven rounds to two rounds in 1988, only one college basketball program, the Kentucky Wildcats, has seen at least four players get selected in back-to-back drafts. Last year five Cats got picked (John Wall Washington Wizards, DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento Kings, Patrick Patterson Houston Rockets, Eric Bledsoe Oklahoma City Thunder, and Daniel Orton Orlando Magic).
Four former Wildcats were selected in the 2011 NBA Draft last night, including top-10 picks Enes Kanter and Brandon Knight who were selected third and eighth overall. Kanter was selected No. 3 overall by the Utah Jazz, followed by Knight at No. 8 by the Detroit Pistons. Josh Harrellson went 45th to the New Orleans Hornets. DeAndre Liggins ended the night for Kentucky when he was selected 53rd by the Orlando Magic.
2011 marks the second straight year that Kentucky had multiple players selected in the top 10 of the draft, and at least four overall. In the modern era, and I define the “modern era” as post-1987 when the draft was reduced from seven rounds to two, this is the first time it has happened; at any school. Only one school has four taken in three consecutive years (Long Beach State, 72-74, but that was back when the draft was 10 rounds long).
By Paul M. Banks
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