NBA commissioner David Stern, left, poses with the No.1 overall draft pick Blake
Griffin, from Oklahoma, who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first
round of the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 25, 2009 in New York.
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The big winner in the NBA Draft last night was the Big 12. They have two reasons to stick out their chests and crow. Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin became the first Big 12 to go number one since Danny Manning of Kansas. Griffin broke the conference’s string of three straight number 2 picks (Aldridge, Durant, Beasley). The bad news for Griffin is that he will be playing in the Staples Center for the wrong team.
Overall, four Big 12 players were taken. DeMarre Carroll (Missouri ) was selected in the first round while Taylor Griffin (Oklahoma) and Chinemelu Elonu (Texas A&M) were taken in the second rounds. It was a little surprising to me that Leo Lyons (Missouri) and Curtis Jerrels (Baylor) were passed over. It was a deep draft for the backcourt, but you can’t convince me that some of the foreign post players drafted were better than Lyons. An interesting side note for Missouri is that they are only the second team in the Big 12 to have a player taken in the first round of the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball Drafts.
The league was the biggest winner last night because of the players who decided to stay in school. When Cole Aldrich and Sheron Collins decided to give it one more shot at a national championship Bill Self became the happiest coach in college basketball. The two sure fire lottery picks will make Kansas the pre-season favorite to win it all. Texas was helped by the decision of Damion James to come back for another year. With the addition of transfer guard Jai Lucas, the Longhorns become another Big 12 favorite to make the Final Four.
However, no one can be more relieved than Iowa State coach Greg McDermott. Craig Brackins will return for his junior season and give the Cyclones an opportunity for post season play. Brackins and Aldrich’s development this past season was nothing short of remarkable. With continued development they will both be top five picks in next year’s draft.
If you are a Big 12 fan you are excited that you get to have your cake and eat it too. The number one pick in Griffin and all of your better players spurning the draft for another year of college basketball fun. It certainly will be fun to watch!
Comments
It was great for the Big 12 because the picks were coming from non traditional powers... at least the guys from MU and A&M. I was also surprised about Lyons. He got a lot of pub during the tournament. He will get his shot though.
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