Every year, it seems like more college underclassmen declare for the NBA draft than there are jobs available for them. A total of 45 players who left U.S. colleges with NCAA eligibility remaining were available for selection last month, representing three-fourths of the 60 draft slots. On the whole, they made the most of their opportunities.
The majority of them heard their name called on draft night, and they represented nearly half the draft field, comprising 29 of this year’s 60 draftees. Seven of the 16 who went undrafted have since secured deals with NBA teams, and two months still remain for others to join them before the start of training camp. Not all of the players drafted beyond the first round have guaranteed salaries, but the vast majority of the underclassmen who made themselves eligible for this year’s draft have at least found opportunities to prove they can play in the NBA.
These were the drafted underclassmen, listed in order of selection:
- Karl-Anthony Towns, C/F, Kentucky (Freshman) — Timberwolves (first overall)
- D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State (Freshman) — Lakers (second overall)
- Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke (Freshman) — Sixers (third overall)
- Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky (Junior) — Kings (sixth overall)
- Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona (Freshman) — Pistons (eighth overall)
- Justise Winslow, SF, Duke (Freshman) — Heat (10th overall)
- Myles Turner, C, Texas (Freshman) — Pacers (11th overall)
- Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky (Freshman) — Jazz (12th overall)
- Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky (Freshman) — Suns (13th overall)
- Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State (Sophomore) — Thunder (14th overall)
- Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas (Freshman) — Hawks (15th overall), traded to Wizards
- Terry Rozier, G, Louisville (Sophomore) — Celtics (16th overall)
- Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV (Freshman) — Bucks (17th overall)
- Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin (Junior) — Rockets (18th overall)
- Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia (Junior) — Mavericks (21st overall)
- Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas (Sophomore) — Bulls (22nd overall)
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona (Sophomore) — Trail Blazers (23rd overall), traded to Nets
- Tyus Jones, PG, Duke (Freshman) — Cavaliers (24th overall), traded to Timberwolves
- Jarell Martin, PF, LSU (Sophomore) — Grizzlies (25th overall)
- R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State (Junior) — Celtics (28th overall)
- Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse (Freshman) — Nets (29th overall)
- Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA (Freshman) — Warriors (30th overall)
- Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville (Junior) — Rockets (32nd overall)
- Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU (Sophomore) — Celtics (33rd overall)
- Olivier Hanlan, G, Boston College (Junior) — Jazz (42nd overall)
- Andrew Harrison, G, Kentucky (Sophomore) — Suns (44th overall), traded to Grizzlies
- Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky (Sophomore) — Thunder (48th overall)
- Tyler Harvey, SG, Eastern Washington (Junior) — Magic (51st overall)
- J.P. Tokoto, SG, North Carolina (Junior) — Sixers (58th overall)
The rest of the underclassmen are listed alphabetically below, with information on those who’ve found pro deals:
- Cliff Alexander, F/C, Kansas (Freshman) — signed with Trail Blazers
- Brandon Ashley, PF, Arizona (Junior) — signed with Mavericks
- Michael Frazier, SG, Florida (Junior) — unsigned
- Aaron Harrison, SG, Kentucky (Sophomore) — signed with Hornets
- Vince Hunter, PF, UTEP (Sophomore) — unsigned
- Charles Jackson, C, Tennessee Tech (Junior) — unsigned
- Trevor Lacey, SG, N.C. State (Junior) — signed overseas
- Ashton Pankey, F, Manhattan (Junior) — unsigned
- Terran Petteway, SG, Nebraska (Junior) — signed with Hawks
- Michael Qualls, SG, Arkansas (Junior) — agreed to sign with Thunder
- Jherrod Stiggers, G, Houston (Junior) — unsigned
- Deonta Stocks, G, West Georgia (Sophomore) — unsigned
- Aaron Thomas, SG, Florida State (Junior) — unsigned
- Robert Upshaw, C, Washington (Sophomore) — agreed to sign with Lakers
- Chris Walker, PF, Florida (Sophomore) — unsigned
- Christian Wood, PF, UNLV (Sophomore) — agreed to sign with Rockets