BROOKLYN – Five former Big Ten standouts were selected in the 2013 NBA Draft on Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, including four first-round choices. Three former student-athletes were selected among the first nine picks, the most of any conference, and it marked the first time three conference players were picked in the top 10 since 1990.
Indiana’s Victor Oladipo was the first conference athlete chosen, going to the Orlando Magic at No. 2. It is the second time in four seasons a Big Ten player was among the draft’s top two picks, following Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2010. Hoosier teammate Cody Zeller was picked fourth by the Charlotte Bobcats.
Michigan’s Trey Burke was the ninth overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves before his draft rights were traded to Utah. Burke’s teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. was picked 24th overall by the New York Knicks, giving the Big Ten four first-round selections for the first time since 2007. Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas rounded out the drafted Big Ten standouts after being selected 58th overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
Indiana and Michigan were two of three teams to have multiple players selected in the first round, and it is the second time in the last three years five Big Ten players were selected in the annual draft.
