BleedGopher
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per Marcus:
Thursday’s NBA Draft will mark 14 years since former Hopkins standout Kris Humphries — the last Gopher drafted — went No. 14 overall to the Utah Jazz.
“It’s kind of a surprise to me that no one else has been drafted since me,” Humphries said. “There’s a few guys who you thought probably would’ve, but a lot of things have to come together sometimes.”
Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State have the longest drought in the Big Ten with their last NBA draft picks in 1999. Michigan State and Ohio State have the league’s most draft picks since 2004 with 11 and 10 players, respectively.
“It’s beneficial for everybody if we get guys in the NBA,” Pitino said. “It helps recruiting. It helps obviously their lives, because they’re dreaming of those things. I think we’re close. I feel like, if we can stay healthy, I think we can get there.”
So who will be drafted next from the Gophers? Pitino believes he has several NBA prospects on the 2018-19 team.
“I think that if you look at our roster there are some guys in Jordan Murphy, in Amir Coffey, in Eric Curry, in Daniel Oturu, in Isaiah Washington,” Pitino said. “I’m not saying they’re locks for it, but they can be in the conversation.”
The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Murphy decided not to declare early for this year’s draft even after leading Minnesota in scoring (16.8), leading the Big Ten in rebounding (11.3) and grabbing an NCAA-best 24 double-doubles, tying potential No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton.
Murphy’s lack of size for a post player might not hurt him with NBA teams playing small ball. Improving his jump shot and defense will likely determine if he’ll hear his name called a year from now on draft day. He’s currently projected as a second round pick in 2019.
“He’s not the profile of an NBA power forward because of his size,” ESPN NBA draft analyst Fran Fraschilla said. “But he is a very good basketball player. I would never rule him out playing in the league. There are always a handful of outliers, guys who don’t fit the mold. Jordan is one of those guys. Until (the Gophers) had their turmoil, he was playing about as well as any power forward in the country.”
Murphy’s not the only Gopher frontcourt player on the NBA’s radar.
Despite missing last season with a knee injury, Curry gained attention as an impact freshman on the U’s last NCAA tournament team in 2017. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound redshirt sophomore has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, can stretch the floor with his outside shot and defend pick-and-rolls.
“I think Eric Curry actually has NBA potential someday, if he’s healthy long term,” Fraschilla said. “He showed great rebounding instincts and shot the three his freshman season. He’s a live body. I really liked his freshman year and thought three or four years from now, this kid could be one of those guys who can play in the league. They’ve got some good pieces.”
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-...with-host-of-prospects-next-season/486074181/
Go Gophers!!
Thursday’s NBA Draft will mark 14 years since former Hopkins standout Kris Humphries — the last Gopher drafted — went No. 14 overall to the Utah Jazz.
“It’s kind of a surprise to me that no one else has been drafted since me,” Humphries said. “There’s a few guys who you thought probably would’ve, but a lot of things have to come together sometimes.”
Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State have the longest drought in the Big Ten with their last NBA draft picks in 1999. Michigan State and Ohio State have the league’s most draft picks since 2004 with 11 and 10 players, respectively.
“It’s beneficial for everybody if we get guys in the NBA,” Pitino said. “It helps recruiting. It helps obviously their lives, because they’re dreaming of those things. I think we’re close. I feel like, if we can stay healthy, I think we can get there.”
So who will be drafted next from the Gophers? Pitino believes he has several NBA prospects on the 2018-19 team.
“I think that if you look at our roster there are some guys in Jordan Murphy, in Amir Coffey, in Eric Curry, in Daniel Oturu, in Isaiah Washington,” Pitino said. “I’m not saying they’re locks for it, but they can be in the conversation.”
The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Murphy decided not to declare early for this year’s draft even after leading Minnesota in scoring (16.8), leading the Big Ten in rebounding (11.3) and grabbing an NCAA-best 24 double-doubles, tying potential No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton.
Murphy’s lack of size for a post player might not hurt him with NBA teams playing small ball. Improving his jump shot and defense will likely determine if he’ll hear his name called a year from now on draft day. He’s currently projected as a second round pick in 2019.
“He’s not the profile of an NBA power forward because of his size,” ESPN NBA draft analyst Fran Fraschilla said. “But he is a very good basketball player. I would never rule him out playing in the league. There are always a handful of outliers, guys who don’t fit the mold. Jordan is one of those guys. Until (the Gophers) had their turmoil, he was playing about as well as any power forward in the country.”
Murphy’s not the only Gopher frontcourt player on the NBA’s radar.
Despite missing last season with a knee injury, Curry gained attention as an impact freshman on the U’s last NCAA tournament team in 2017. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound redshirt sophomore has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, can stretch the floor with his outside shot and defend pick-and-rolls.
“I think Eric Curry actually has NBA potential someday, if he’s healthy long term,” Fraschilla said. “He showed great rebounding instincts and shot the three his freshman season. He’s a live body. I really liked his freshman year and thought three or four years from now, this kid could be one of those guys who can play in the league. They’ve got some good pieces.”
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-...with-host-of-prospects-next-season/486074181/
Go Gophers!!
