In case you haven't noticed (and maybe you haven't, I know people have lives and stuff), the University of Texas basketball team under coach Rick Barnes has produced a crap load of NBA players in the past decade. First-rounders, Top 10 picks, Top 2 picks... Texas churns them out year after year. Here's a list of NBA players drafted from UT over the past 10 years:
2010:
Rd 1, #19 overall - Avery Bradley - Boston Celtics
Rd 1, #24 overall - Damion James - New Jersey Nets
Rd 2, #32 overall - Dexter Pittman - Miami Heat
2008:
Rd 1, #8 overall - D.J. Augustin - Charlotte Bobcats
2007:
Rd 1, #2 overall - Kevin Durant - Seattle Supersonics / OKC Thunder
2006:
Rd 1, #2 overall - LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland TrailBlazers
Rd 2, #35 overall - P.J. Tucker - Toronto Raptors
Rd 2, #42 overall - Daniel Gibson - Cleveland Cavaliers
2004:
Rd 2, #38 overall - Royal Ivey - Atlanta Hawks
2003:
Rd 1, #8 overall - T.J. Ford - Milwaukee Bucks
AT A GLANCE: There's a lot of familiar names on the list ... Durant, of course, is an elite NBA player and perennial MVP candidate. ... Aldridge played really well this past season: he was voted All-NBA Third Team in 2011. ... Ford, though stricken by injuries stemming from his Texas days, was more-than-serviceable when healthy. ... Augustin and Gibson have been starters for their respective teams. ... Bradley has a reputation as a lock-down defensive point guard, so it seems like he'll stick in the League. ... James is tough, was productive in college, and seems like he'll be "a good player" at worst.
You'd be hard-pressed to find another NCAA school in the 2000's that can match this group of Texas prospects, combining both quality and quantity.
2011 PROSPECTS: Texas will add to this already-impressive list when the 2011 NBA Draft takes place this Thursday, June 23. Mock drafts at NBADraft.net project 3 more Texas players to go in the two rounds this year: Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton, and Cory Joseph.
With Gary Johnson (who I always thought was a really good college player), Dogus Balbay, and Jai Lucas all out of eligibility, it's the "end of an era" of sorts at UT. But seeing how Barnes and his staff have recruited, I'd say the chances are good that they'll reload quickly!
All this talent makes University of Texas basketball a must-watch all year, even before the conference tournaments start. You bet I'll be watching the Longhorns again this fall, check them out if you haven't already!
2010:
Rd 1, #19 overall - Avery Bradley - Boston Celtics
Rd 1, #24 overall - Damion James - New Jersey Nets
Rd 2, #32 overall - Dexter Pittman - Miami Heat
2008:
Rd 1, #8 overall - D.J. Augustin - Charlotte Bobcats
2007:
Rd 1, #2 overall - Kevin Durant - Seattle Supersonics / OKC Thunder
2006:
Rd 1, #2 overall - LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland TrailBlazers
Rd 2, #35 overall - P.J. Tucker - Toronto Raptors
Rd 2, #42 overall - Daniel Gibson - Cleveland Cavaliers
2004:
Rd 2, #38 overall - Royal Ivey - Atlanta Hawks
2003:
Rd 1, #8 overall - T.J. Ford - Milwaukee Bucks
AT A GLANCE: There's a lot of familiar names on the list ... Durant, of course, is an elite NBA player and perennial MVP candidate. ... Aldridge played really well this past season: he was voted All-NBA Third Team in 2011. ... Ford, though stricken by injuries stemming from his Texas days, was more-than-serviceable when healthy. ... Augustin and Gibson have been starters for their respective teams. ... Bradley has a reputation as a lock-down defensive point guard, so it seems like he'll stick in the League. ... James is tough, was productive in college, and seems like he'll be "a good player" at worst.
You'd be hard-pressed to find another NCAA school in the 2000's that can match this group of Texas prospects, combining both quality and quantity.
2011 PROSPECTS: Texas will add to this already-impressive list when the 2011 NBA Draft takes place this Thursday, June 23. Mock drafts at NBADraft.net project 3 more Texas players to go in the two rounds this year: Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton, and Cory Joseph.
With Gary Johnson (who I always thought was a really good college player), Dogus Balbay, and Jai Lucas all out of eligibility, it's the "end of an era" of sorts at UT. But seeing how Barnes and his staff have recruited, I'd say the chances are good that they'll reload quickly!
All this talent makes University of Texas basketball a must-watch all year, even before the conference tournaments start. You bet I'll be watching the Longhorns again this fall, check them out if you haven't already!
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