A New Beginning -- IU finds NBA Draft impact
BY PETE DIPRIMIO
Welcome to the debut of my new blog. It comes amid change that hopefully will lead to a better tomorrow ... and more hair!
Anyway, the NBA draft arrived on Thursday night, and for the 137th consecutive year, I was not selected.
The obvious conclusion is, as always ... conspiracy!
So there you go.
Meanwhile, Indiana's OG Anunoby and Thomas Bryant were drafted.
James Blackmon was not.
This surprised no one.
The 6-8 Anunoby was the No. 23 overall pick by the Toronto Raptors. The 6-11 Bryant was the 42nd pick by the Utah Jazz, who then traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. So he'll get a shot at the Hollywood lifestyle.
Anunoby, a preseason All-America, was a first round pick despite not being able to work out for teams as he recovers from knee surgery. No matter. His size, length, hustle, defense and potential were more than enough for Toronto to take him.
He might not play this year, although he's hoping to be cleared by November, and that's OK. It's about the potential and the future. His are both bright.
He arrived at with little fanfare and few words, and left with even fewer words, and some NBA draft analysts wondering if he'd be a lottery pick. He likely would have been if he hadn't blown out his knee in January against Penn State.
"I think (the injury) affected my draft, but everything happens for a reason," Anunoby told ESPN. "I'm happy to be playing for the Raptors now."
In 16 games Anunoby averaged 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. That included an impressive 16-point, 5-rebound, 2-block performance against eventual national champ North Carolina.
Anunoby, by the way, is the 24th Hoosier to be selected in the first round. No other Big Ten school has more.
Then there was Bryant, a bundle of energy with plenty of raw potential. He has to smooth out his game, build his strength, and prove he can bang inside as well as cause damage on the outside.
A preseason All-America, Bryant was erratic for much of the season. Still, he finished strong to make All-Big Ten third team by averaging 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore. He shot 38.3 percent from three-point range and added a team-leading 52 blocks.
"He's a really hard worker," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. "His mobility on the perimeter is a little bit of an issue, but he moves laterally really well. He really worked hard in his time at Indiana to become a better player, getting up and trying to guard pick and rolls and doing everything that was asked of him. I think he can improve substantially going forward."
The Lakers also got Lonzo Ball (which means they got Ball's father, which means high maintenance will be a constant theme) with the No. 2 pick and 6-11 Tony Bradley with the No. 28 picks.
As for Blackmon, he quickly signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. He hopes to follow the path of ex-Hoosiers Yogi Ferrell and Troy Williams, who weren't drafted last year, but still wound up on NBA rosters -- Williams with Houston, Ferrell with Dallas.
Blackmon is an NBA talent as a shooter. If he ever learns how to play consistent defense, and deliver consistent effort, look out.
Yes, that's a big if.
In other words, welcome to a new era.
Welcome to the debut of my new blog. It comes amid change that hopefully will lead to a better tomorrow ... and more hair!
Anyway, the NBA draft arrived on Thursday night, and for the 137th consecutive year, I was not selected.
The obvious conclusion is, as always ... conspiracy!
So there you go.
Meanwhile, Indiana's OG Anunoby and Thomas Bryant were drafted.
James Blackmon was not.
This surprised no one.
The 6-8 Anunoby was the No. 23 overall pick by the Toronto Raptors. The 6-11 Bryant was the 42nd pick by the Utah Jazz, who then traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. So he'll get a shot at the Hollywood lifestyle.
Anunoby, a preseason All-America, was a first round pick despite not being able to work out for teams as he recovers from knee surgery. No matter. His size, length, hustle, defense and potential were more than enough for Toronto to take him.
He might not play this year, although he's hoping to be cleared by November, and that's OK. It's about the potential and the future. His are both bright.
He arrived at with little fanfare and few words, and left with even fewer words, and some NBA draft analysts wondering if he'd be a lottery pick. He likely would have been if he hadn't blown out his knee in January against Penn State.
"I think (the injury) affected my draft, but everything happens for a reason," Anunoby told ESPN. "I'm happy to be playing for the Raptors now."
In 16 games Anunoby averaged 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. That included an impressive 16-point, 5-rebound, 2-block performance against eventual national champ North Carolina.
Anunoby, by the way, is the 24th Hoosier to be selected in the first round. No other Big Ten school has more.
Then there was Bryant, a bundle of energy with plenty of raw potential. He has to smooth out his game, build his strength, and prove he can bang inside as well as cause damage on the outside.
A preseason All-America, Bryant was erratic for much of the season. Still, he finished strong to make All-Big Ten third team by averaging 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore. He shot 38.3 percent from three-point range and added a team-leading 52 blocks.
"He's a really hard worker," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. "His mobility on the perimeter is a little bit of an issue, but he moves laterally really well. He really worked hard in his time at Indiana to become a better player, getting up and trying to guard pick and rolls and doing everything that was asked of him. I think he can improve substantially going forward."
The Lakers also got Lonzo Ball (which means they got Ball's father, which means high maintenance will be a constant theme) with the No. 2 pick and 6-11 Tony Bradley with the No. 28 picks.
As for Blackmon, he quickly signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. He hopes to follow the path of ex-Hoosiers Yogi Ferrell and Troy Williams, who weren't drafted last year, but still wound up on NBA rosters -- Williams with Houston, Ferrell with Dallas.
Blackmon is an NBA talent as a shooter. If he ever learns how to play consistent defense, and deliver consistent effort, look out.
Yes, that's a big if.
In other words, welcome to a new era.
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