The list that keeps on going
Posted at 3:19 p.m. EDT – Eric Lindsey, UK Media Relations
You already knew Kentucky was a basketball factory. Players come in, they compete for national championships and a decent chunk of them go on to play professional ball somewhere or another.
But it’s hard to contemplate just how many players have been selected in the NBA Draft over the years until you take a good look at the ridiculously long chart below, a list All-American Jodie Meeks hopes to add himself to Thursday night during the 2009 NBA Draft.
To prep you for the draft, I thought I’d give a complete rundown of all the players in UK history to get selected in the draft. Some names are obvious, others you might not expect. But the sheer number of players taken is something very few schools can boast.
In all, 91 players have been selected in the NBA Draft (keep in mind that would be more had the NBA not cut its draft down to two rounds a couple of decades ago), including some of the all-time UK greats. A whopping 20 players have been taken in the first round, the most recent coming in 2006 when the Phoenix Suns selected Rajon Rondo with the 21st overall pick (he was later traded to Boston).
An interesting fact you might not know: A UK player has never been selected with the No. 1 overall pick. The highest a UK player has ever gone was No. 2 overall, when the Portland Trail Blazers took Sam Bowie in the 1984 draft. Rick Robey checked in at No. 3 overall in the 1978 draft.
For more NBA Draft nuggets, check the list below, and stay tuned Thursday night to see if Meeks can become the 92nd UK player to go in the NBA Draft.
|
YEAR
|
ROUND
|
PICK
|
NAME
|
TEAM
|
|
1947
|
|
|
Jack Tingle
|
Washington Capitols
|
|
1948
|
|
|
Joe Holland
|
Baltimore Bullets
|
|
|
|
|
Jack Parkinson
|
Washington Capitols
|
|
|
|
|
Kenny Rollins
|
Fort Wayne Pistons
|
|
1949
|
|
|
Cliff Barker
|
Indianapolis Olympians
|
|
|
|
|
Ralph Beard
|
Chicago Stags
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Groza
|
Indianapolis Olympians
|
|
|
|
|
Wah Wah Jones
|
Washington Capitols
|
|
1950
|
|
|
Dale Barnstable
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Line
|
Indianapolis Olympians
|
|
1952
|
|
|
Bobby Watson
|
Milwaukee Hawks
|
|
|
|
|
Lucian Whitaker
|
Indianapolis Olympians
|
|
1953
|
|
|
Cliff Hagan
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
|
|
Frank Ramsey
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
|
|
Lou Tsioropoulos
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
1955
|
5
|
34
|
Bill Evans
|
Rochester Royals
|
|
1956
|
|
|
Jerry Bird
|
Minneapolis Lakers
|
|
|
|
|
Bob Burrow
|
Rochester Royals
|
|
|
|
|
Phil Grawemeyer
|
Minneapolis Lakers
|
|
1957
|
10
|
73
|
Jerry Calvert
|
Philadelphia Warriors
|
|
1958
|
2
|
10
|
Vernon Hatton
|
Cincinnati Royals
|
|
|
4
|
37
|
Johnny Cox
|
New York Knicks
|
|
|
15
|
86
|
Adrian Smith
|
Cincinnati Royals
|
|
1959
|
4
|
30
|
Johnny Cox
|
New York Knicks
|
|
1960
|
4
|
32
|
Sid Cohen
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
6
|
48
|
George Newman
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
7
|
53
|
Bennie Coffman
|
Syracuse Nationals
|
|
|
18
|
92
|
Don Mills
|
Cincinnati Royals
|
|
1961
|
5
|
45
|
Billy Ray Lickert
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
|
|
5
|
64
|
Roger Newman
|
Syracuse Nationals
|
|
|
13
|
102
|
Ned Jennings
|
New York Knicks
|
|
1962
|
8
|
61
|
Larry Pursiful
|
Chicago Zephyrs
|
|
1964
|
2
|
12
|
Cotton Nash
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
|
1966
|
3
|
24
|
Tommy Kron
|
St. Louis Hawks
|
|
1967
|
1
|
7
|
Pat Riley
|
San Diego Rockets
|
|
|
4
|
38
|
Louie Dampier
|
Cincinnati Royals
|
|
1968
|
5
|
60
|
Thad Jaracz
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
9
|
119
|
Cliff Berger
|
Milwaukee Bucks
|
|
1969
|
10
|
139
|
Phil Argento
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
|
1970
|
8
|
122
|
Dan Issel
|
Detroit Pistons
|
|
|
8
|
130
|
Mike Casey
|
Chicago Bulls
|
|
1971
|
3
|
37
|
Larry Steele
|
Portland Trail Blazers
|
|
|
10
|
163
|
Jim Dinwiddle
|
Philadelphia 76ers
|
|
1972
|
6
|
83
|
Tom Parker
|
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
|
|
10
|
146
|
Kent Hollenbeck
|
Detroit Pistons
|
|
1973
|
7
|
107
|
Jim Anderews
|
Seattle Supersonics
|
|
1975
|
1
|
18
|
Kevin Grevey
|
Washington Bullets
|
|
|
2
|
36
|
Jimmy Dan Conner
|
Phoenix Suns
|
|
|
3
|
49
|
Bob Guyette
|
K.C.-Omaha Kings
|
|
|
7
|
113
|
Mike Flynn
|
Philadelphia 76ers
|
|
1977
|
2
|
24
|
Larry Johnson
|
Buffalo Braves
|
|
1978
|
1
|
3
|
Rick Robey
|
Indiana Pacers
|
|
|
1
|
16
|
Jack Givens
|
Atlanta Hawks
|
|
|
2
|
39
|
James Lee
|
Seattle Supersonics
|
|
|
3
|
45
|
Mike Phillips
|
New Jersey Nets
|
|
1979
|
1
|
22
|
Kyle Macy
|
Phoenix Suns
|
|
|
6
|
111
|
Truman Clayton
|
Detroit Pistons
|
|
1980
|
5
|
101
|
LaVon Williams
|
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
|
|
9
|
183
|
Jay Shidler
|
Chicago Bulls
|
|
1981
|
6
|
127
|
Fred Cowan
|
Houston Rockets
|
|
1982
|
7
|
145
|
Chuck Verderber
|
Chicago Bulls
|
|
1983
|
2
|
33
|
Dirk Minniefield
|
Dallas Mavericks
|
|
|
3
|
67
|
Derrick Hord
|
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
|
|
6
|
134
|
Charles Hurt
|
Milwaukee Bucks
|
|
1984
|
1
|
2
|
Sam Bowie
|
Portland Trail Blazers
|
|
|
1
|
6
|
Melvin Turpin
|
Washington Bullets
|
|
|
4
|
81
|
Dickey Beal
|
Atlanta Hawks
|
|
|
6
|
127
|
Jim Master
|
Atlanta Hawks
|
|
|
8
|
163
|
Tom Heitz
|
Indiana Pacers
|
|
1986
|
1
|
5
|
Kenny Walker
|
New York Knicks
|
|
|
5
|
115
|
Roger Harden
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
|
1987
|
5
|
94
|
James Blackmon
|
New Jersey Nets
|
|
1988
|
1
|
8
|
Rex Chapman
|
Charlotte Hornets
|
|
|
3
|
51
|
Rob Lock
|
Los Angeles Clippers
|
|
|
3
|
60
|
Ed Davender
|
Washington Bullets
|
|
|
3
|
64
|
Winston Bennett
|
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
|
1993
|
1
|
4
|
Jamal Mashburn
|
Dallas Mavericks
|
|
1994
|
2
|
31
|
Rodney Dent
|
Orlando Magic
|
|
1996
|
1
|
6
|
Antoine Walker
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
1
|
16
|
Tony Delk
|
Charlotte Hornets
|
|
|
1
|
19
|
Walter McCarty
|
New York Knicks
|
|
|
2
|
52
|
Mark Pope
|
Indiana Pacers
|
|
1997
|
1
|
6
|
Ron Mercer
|
Boston Celtics
|
|
|
1
|
13
|
Derek Anderson
|
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
|
1998
|
1
|
29
|
Nazr Mohammed
|
Utah Jazz
|
|
1999
|
1
|
28
|
Scott Padgett
|
Utah Jazz
|
|
2000
|
1
|
19
|
Jamaal Magloire
|
Charlotte Hornets
|
|
2002
|
1
|
23
|
Tayshaun Prince
|
Detroit Pistons
|
|
2003
|
2
|
43
|
Keith Bogans
|
Milwaukee Bucks
|
|
2006
|
1
|
21
|
Rajon Rondo
|
Phoenix Suns
|
|
2008
|
2
|
58
|
Joe Crawford
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
Morning coffee
Posted at 10:04 a.m. EDT - Eric Lindsey, UK Media Relations
We'll continue Wildcat Wednesdays today at about 1:20 p.m. with women's basketball head coach Matthew Mitchell. Don't forget to join us then to send in your questions and comments to the third-year coach. Until then, let's quickly run through some highlights:
UK story of the day: OK, we're going way back for this one. Like last week way back. That's how slow it's been in the form of UK news, but it makes up for a story I missed when I took time off last week.
Anyway, this story comes from Chris Low of ESPN, who writes that Randall Cobb will be played primarily at receiver in 2009. No surprise there, but Low reports that is where UK needs him the most.
Some of Big Blue Nation still doesn't agree with that and would like to see him under center, but I have to side with Low here. While a bit inexperienced, UK is actually deep at the quarterback position. Mike Hartline has shown flashes that he's capable of running the UK offense, and if he can't, he's got two highly touted quarterbacks waiting in the wings. Let's also not forget that Will Fidler looked mighty impressive for parts of the Blue/White Spring Game.
But the biggest reason for Cobb's move to wide receiver is because it's where he's needed the most. With the departure of E.J. Adams, UK's already barren wide-receiving corps becomes even thinner. It isn't so much that the Cats don't have the numbers at the position, it's that they don't have enough game-changing receivers and one who has the playmaking ability of Cobb.
Cobb provides that game-breaking talent that's been sorely missed since the days of Dicky Lyons, Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson. It might not be the most popular move, but it's the right one.
SEC story of the day: The real story is that Texas forced a game three in the College World Series after defeating Louisiana State on Tuesday, but let's take a break from that today since we've a.) already talked about it and b.) will talk about it again tomorrow once the series is decided.
Instead, I'll throw you a Southeastern Conference link from Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun, who provides a summer SEC football forecast.
With all the John Calipari hype around Lexington, football has taken a back seat in the Bluegrass State. What people don't realize is that pigskin season is right around the corner.
UK doesn't make Andreu's summer storylines, but I think this is a pivotal summer and year for the program. UK has taken a giant leap forward after three straight bowl wins, but where does it go from here? The program is good, but it still isn't great. It still has steps to take, one direction or the other, and this year could be a strong indicator of which way it's headed.
And because it really still is the SEC story of the day, a link to the CWS from the Advocate.
National story of the day: As is typically the case just hours before the NBA Draft, teams are reshuffling their lineups with last-minute trades in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas, giving the aging Spurs a much-needed threat on the wing.
The deal hasn't been sealed yet, but there are reports that the Washington Wizards would send the No. 5 pick in Thursday's draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songalia to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller. The Timberwolves already have picks five, six, 18 and 28 in the draft, but they might also be seeking pick No. 2. Talk about rebuilding.
And the final rumored trade involves two former Wildcats. Boston and Detroit were reportedly in talks to send Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen to Detroit for Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey. The Pistons shot down the trade rumors Tuesday, but I don't think it's the end of the deal. Here's my take from Tuesday on that potential swap.
