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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How many Big Ten basketball players were selected in the 2025 NBA Draft?
A total of 10 Big Ten basketball players were selected in the first and second rounds of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday and Thursday. Headlined by Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, the Big Ten witnessed eight of its players selected in the first round -- a new conference record. Harper, who averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 32.6 minutes per game for the Scarlet Knights, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 2 overall pick on Wednesday. His teammate, 6-foot-10 guard/forward Ace Bailey, went No. 5 to the Utah Jazz just minutes later. While both players were projected to land within the draft's lottery, the conference also produced six more high-profile draftees before the beginning of the second round on Thursday. Most notably, the New Orleans Pelicans traded an unprotected first-round pick from the 2026 NBA draft to the Atlanta Hawks for an opportunity to select Maryland big man Derik Queen, the 2024-25 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. New Orleans' decision to shop the pick, which could morph into a No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3 overall selection, epitomizes the franchise's confidence in the 20-year-old. The Miami Heat went on to select Illinois' do-it-all combo guard Kasparas Jakučionis at No. 20, followed by Utah's selection of Fighting Illini center Will Riley at No. 21 and the Orlando Magic's pick of Michigan State guard Jase Richardson at No. 25. The Brooklyn Nets then snagged Michigan big Danny Wolf at No. 27, before the Los Angeles Clippers claimed Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser at No. 30 to round out the first round. While the second round did not produce nearly as many Big Ten talents as the first, the most notable selection of the two-day event for Badger fans arrived late in the second round. After the Thunder selected Northwestern guard Brooks Barnizer at No. 44, Badger star John Tonje heard his name called by the Jazz at No. 53. With the pick, Tonje became the first Badger drafted since Johnny Davis went No. 10 overall to the Washington Wizards in 2022, plus second since Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker were picked in the first round of the 2015 draft. Tonje projects to suit up alongside fellow Big Ten alumnus Bailey during the 2025-26 campaign in Salt Lake City. He'll need to earn his minutes on a competitive second unit. Harper, Bailey, Queen, Richardson and Wolf will likely play a considerable number of minutes for their franchises, while Jakučionis, Niederhauser, Tonje, Barnhizer and Riley will look to earn opportunities. Nonetheless, the 2025 bunch symbolizes the sheer depth in talent across a loaded 18-team conference. The 2026 draft projects to produce another 10 Big Ten representatives, including Badgers center Nolan Winter. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
Memphis Grizzlies trade four picks to land Cedric Coward at No. 11
AP Cedric Coward poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 11th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA 2025 Draft. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Memphis Grizzlies kicked off draft night with a blockbuster move, sending their No. 16 pick, a 2028 first-rounder (via Orlando), and two second-round selections to Portland for the No. 11 slot. With it, they drafted Washington State guard Cedric Coward. Coward - a former Division III standout - impressed scouts with a silky jumper, 7-foot-2 wingspan and relentless motor before a shoulder injury cut his season to six games at 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. Though he had committed to Duke, he stayed in the draft after earning rave reviews. ALSO READ - NBA Draft 2025: Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe headline first-round picks At No. 10, Houston selected Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach, whose rights will shift to Phoenix on July 6 as part of the Kevin Durant trade. Earlier, the Suns had acquired veteran center Mark Williams from Charlotte in exchange for No. 29 (UConn's Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-rounder (protected among Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah). Williams averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season. New Orleans traded its No. 23 pick (Georgia's Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta for No. 13, using it on Maryland's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, center Derik Queen (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). ALSO READ - NBA Draft 2025: Complete List of first-round picks Utah then moved up to No. 18 - sending Nos. 21 and 43 plus 2031 and 2032 seconds to Washington - to draft Final Four MOP guard Walter Clayton Jr. Sacramento dealt its 2027 first-rounder to Oklahoma City for No. 24, selecting Colorado State guard Nique Clifford. Indiana, seeking depth after Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear, acquired No. 38 from San Antonio for a 2030 second-rounder and cash, adding to their late pick at No. 54.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
NBA: Grizzlies trade 4 picks for Cedric Coward
Jun 25, 2025; Cedric Coward stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 11th pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2025 NBA Draft (Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images/REUTERS) The Memphis Grizzlies made one of the first big moves on NBA Draft night by sending two first-round picks and two second-rounders to the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 11 overall selection, which they used to take Washington State guard Cedric Coward on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies sent the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, a 2028 first-round pick (via the Orlando Magic) and two second-round selections to acquire the 6-foot-6 Coward, who began his college career playing Division III basketball but kept climbing the ladder with an automatic jumper, a 7-foot-2 wingspan and an indefatigable work ethic. Coward averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in six games last year for Washington State before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery. He committed to transfer to Duke for the upcoming season but opted to stay in the draft after earning rave reviews. The Houston Rockets selected Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick overall, but he will be shipped to the Phoenix Suns as part of a deal reported Sunday that will send future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from the Suns to the Rockets. The trade will be executed on July 6. Phoenix made another splash moments earlier, acquiring center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 29 selection (UConn guard Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-round pick. The 2029 selection will be the least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota (1-5 protected) and Utah. Williams, a three-year veteran, averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 44 games with Charlotte last season. As lottery picks kept going off the board, teams kept working their way up in the draft. The New Orleans Pelicans sent their first-rounder (23rd overall, Georgia's Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick (most favorable of Milwaukee and New Orleans) to the Atlanta Hawks for the 13th overall pick. The Pelicans used it to select Maryland freshman center Derik Queen, who earned the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year award ahead of the Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36 games with the Terrapins. The Utah Jazz entered the fray shortly after, acquiring the No. 18 pick from the Washington Wizards. Utah gave up picks No. 21 (Illinois guard Will Riley) and No. 43 as well as 2031 and 2032 second-round selections to draft Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. The first-team All-American was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. The Kings reportedly dealt their 2027 first-round pick to the champion Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the 24th overall pick, which Sacramento used to select Colorado State guard Nique Clifford. The Indiana Pacers made the first trade on draft night. A week after trading away their first-round pick, they acquired a second-round pick from the San Antonio Spurs shortly before the draft began. The Pacers landed the 38th overall pick from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the Kings' second-round selection in 2030 plus cash considerations. Indiana acquired the 2030 pick in a deal for shooting guard Chris Duarte in 2023. After trading the 23rd selection to the New Orleans Pelicans last week to reacquire their 2026 first-rounder, the Pacers now have picks No. 38 and 54 in this year's draft. The 2026 pick initially was included in the deal to acquire Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. Toronto then shipped it to New Orleans as part of a package for Brandon Ingram. Coming off a devastating Game 7 loss to the Thunder in the NBA Finals, the Pacers may look to add depth with the extra pick. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon on a non-contact play seven minutes into Game 7 and is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season. --Field Level Media/Reuters
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Memphis Grizzlies trade four picks to land Cedric Coward at No. 11
Memphis Grizzlies kicked off draft night with a blockbuster move, sending their No. 16 pick, a 2028 first-rounder (via Orlando), and two second-round selections to Portland for the No. 11 slot. With it, they drafted Washington State guard Cedric Coward . Coward - a former Division III standout - impressed scouts with a silky jumper, 7-foot-2 wingspan and relentless motor before a shoulder injury cut his season to six games at 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. Though he had committed to Duke, he stayed in the draft after earning rave reviews. ALSO READ - NBA Draft 2025: Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe headline first-round picks by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo At No. 10, Houston selected Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach , whose rights will shift to Phoenix on July 6 as part of the Kevin Durant trade. Earlier, the Suns had acquired veteran center Mark Williams from Charlotte in exchange for No. 29 (UConn's Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-rounder (protected among Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah). Williams averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season. — memgrizz (@memgrizz) Live Events New Orleans traded its No. 23 pick (Georgia's Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta for No. 13, using it on Maryland's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, center Derik Queen (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). ALSO READ - NBA Draft 2025: Complete List of first-round picks Utah then moved up to No. 18 - sending Nos. 21 and 43 plus 2031 and 2032 seconds to Washington - to draft Final Four MOP guard Walter Clayton Jr. Sacramento dealt its 2027 first-rounder to Oklahoma City for No. 24, selecting Colorado State guard Nique Clifford. Indiana, seeking depth after Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear, acquired No. 38 from San Antonio for a 2030 second-rounder and cash, adding to their late pick at No. 54.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA draft prospects: Meet Thomas Sorber, rising NBA draft prospect from Georgetown
It's draft day in the NBA. Over the next several hours before the 2025 NBA Draft begins at the Barclays Center, NBA scouts and executives are looking over their draft boards to do last-minute check-ins and research on the prospects they see as potential missing pieces for their respective franchises, including those who have risen up on the boards in recent days (and weeks). One of those is Georgetown freshman forward Thomas Sorber. In 24 games this season, Sorber averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game before he saw his impressive rookie campaign come to an end due to a season-ending foot injury that required surgery (and is expected to keep him out of the NBA summer league). So, where is the Georgetown forward projected to be taken in the NBA draft? Here's what you need to know on Sorber ahead of the NBA draft: Who is Thomas Sorber? Thomas Sorber is a 6-foot-10, forward prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft class, who has seen his draft stock increase in recent weeks from a projected first-rounder to a potential lottery pick. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, a reason for Sorber's NBA draft stock increasing has been NBA teams' eagerness to acquire a center like Sorber, who "provides physicality and rim protection with his robust frame and wingspan." Sorber was a top-50 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, per 247Sports' Composite rankings, spending his one and only year in college in the Big East at Georgetown. His freshman campaign, however, came to a close in February when he sustained a season-ending foot injury during a Feb. 15 loss to Butler. He was officially shut down by the Hoyas on Feb. 25 after undergoing surgery. At the time of his injury, Sorber was seen to be in a race with UConn's Liam McNeeley for the Big East's Freshman of the Year award. While McNeeley ended up winning the award, Sorber still earned a spot on both the conference's All-Freshman team and All-Big East third team. "I think my ability to read the game because it's very rare. I make quick decisions. I play this thing called point-five basketball," Sorber recently told Bryan Kalbrosky of For The Win, part of USA TODAY, on what skill of his will define his NBA trait. "So I'm trying to make a quick decision while the ball is in my hands but stay relaxed with it. It's been with me since I was a little kid playing in the parks, playing with friends here and there. But I really learned about point-five basketball once I reached Georgetown because coach Ed Cooley really emphasized that on us. Try to anticipate what you're going to do next, try to keep the defense on their toes, and not let the defense relax. I'd also say rebounding as well. I'm able to track the ball well whenever it comes off the rim or the backboard. Those are my main two strengths coming into this process." Thomas Sorber NBA mock draft projections Sorber is projected to be a first-round pick by several NBA draft analysts, including USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt, Lorenzo Reyes and James H. Williams. In USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft, Sorber is projected to go No. 18 overall to the Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Givony has Sorber going one slot before, at No. 17 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in ESPN's latest mock. So does The Athletic's Sam Vecenie. Here's more on USA TODAY's selection of Sorber to the Wizards at No. 18 overall: "The standout freshman required surgery to repair a foot injury suffered Feb. 15 and missed the rest of the season. That could alter his plans for the draft, but Sorber is a stellar inside threat who's just as comfortable cutting to the basket on pick-and-rolls as he is backing down opponents. His rebounding and rim protection will make him an asset, as he continues to grow into his frame." Thomas Sorber height Sorber was listed at 6-foot-10 on Georgetown's official roster. At the NBA draft combine, Sorber's height was measured at 6-foot-9 1/4 inches barefoot. He has a 7-foot-6 wingspan. Thomas Sorber highlights Here's a compilation of Sorber's highlights from this past season at Georgetown: Thomas Sorber stats Sorber started 23 of 24 games that he appeared in at Georgetown. Despite missing the last few weeks of the season, the Philadelphia Catholic League product still finished second on the Hoyas in scoring at 14.5 points per game while leading the team in field-goal shooting at 53.2%. Here's a breakdown of Sorber's stats this past season at Georgetown: The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
