All eyes are on the NBA Draft this week. For Kentucky fans it could mark a couple of first’s and it could mark a first for the NBA draft as well. It’s almost hard to fathom that the tradition of the Wildcats and the great players to have come through that not one of them have been drafted number one. It is highly anticipated that John Wall will become the first Kentucky Wildcat drafted as the number one pick in the NBA by the Wizards.
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It could also be the first time that five players from one school will be drafted in the first round of the draft in the same year. In fact, only three schools have ever had four go in the first round in the same season (UCONN in 2006, North Carolina in 2005 and Duke in 1999). As it stands, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson will all be lottery picks selected in the top 14 choices. Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe are expected to go between the 15th and the 25th pick.
One interesting scenario that seems like a possibility are that two of the Wildcats be selected by the same team. Patrick Patterson at the 12th selection and Eric Bledsoe at the 25th selection could both be nabbed by Memphis. This is interesting to me for a couple of reason. First the team selecting them has to think about the duo’s experience together on the court and having some unmeasurable positive impact in the first year. Second is that Memphis is close enough for Wildcat fans to take road trips to watch these guys in NBA action. I would. Lastly would be two previous college players of Coach Cal’s leaving to go to Memphis only a year after Coach Cal left Memphis to come to Kentucky.
We shall see Thursday what comes to play.
