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UCLA, Michigan lead way with three NBA Draft picks apiece

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The 2014 NBA Draft was held Thursday night, with the Kansas Jayhawks laying claim to two of the top three spots. Andrew Wiggins went first overall, making him the second Canadian in as many years to be taken in that spot, and Joel Embiid was selected by Philadelphia with the third pick. Sandwiched between them was former Duke forward Jabari Parker, making this the sixth consecutive year in which the Blue Devils have seen at least one of their players go in the first round.

Team-wise ten programs had multiple players picked, with UCLA and Michigan leading the way with three picks apiece. All three of UCLA’s selections heard their names called in the first round, with Minnesota picking guard Zach LaVine 13th, Memphis taking guard Jordan Adams 22nd and Kyle Anderson being selected by the Spurs with the 30th pick.

As for Michigan, Nik Stauskas became the highest-picked Wolverine since Jamal Crawford was picked eighth overall in the 2000 NBA Draft when he was selected in that same spot by the Sacramento Kings. Forward Mitch McGary was taken with the 21st pick by Oklahoma City, with fellow forward Glenn Robinson III going in the second round (40th pick) to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Joining UCLA and Michigan with multiple draft selections were Arizona (Aaron Gordon- 4th; Nick Johnson- 42nd), Duke (Parker- 2nd; Rodney Hood- 23rd), Kentucky (Julius Randle- 7th; James Young- 17th), Michigan State (Adreian Payne- 15th; Gary Harris- 19th), Oklahoma State (Marcus Smart- 6th; Markel Brown- 44th), Stanford (Josh Huestis- 29th; Dwight Powell- 45th), Syracuse (Tyler Ennis- 18th, Jerami Grant- 39th), Tennessee (Jarnell Stokes- 35th; Jordan McRae- 58th), and UConn (Shabazz Napier- 24th; DeAndre Daniels- 37th).

Some NBA Draft streaks came to an end Thursday night as well, most notably those of Florida and Ohio State as neither program had a player selected. This is the first time since 2010 that a Gator wasn’t picked, and with that being the case it can be argued that their 36-3 record of a season ago is even more impressive. As for Ohio State, this is the first draft since 2006 that hasn’t seen at least one Buckeye hear his name called.

As for conference representation it was the Pac-12 that came out on top, with nine of the 60 selections coming from that conference. The ACC was next in line with eight selections, followed by the Big Ten (seven), SEC (six), Big 12 (five), American Athletic (three) and Big East (two).

Also of note was former North Carolina guard P.J. Hairston’s selection, as the Texas Legends guard became the first-ever D-League product to be picked in the first round (26th overall).

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