Jeffrey Becker/USA Today Sports
Can Penn State Make History at the 2023 NBA Draft?
Seth Lundy and Jalen Pickett have an opportunity to make Penn State basketball history at the 2023 NBA Draft, just as they did during the Lions' historic regular season. Penn State has never had two players selected in the same NBA Draft. Lundy and Pickett could break that ground when the 2023 NBA Draft is held June 22 in Brooklyn, New York.
Thirteen Penn State players have been selected in the NBA Draft since 1947, but no draft has featured more than one Nittany Lion. The last Penn State player drafted was Tony Carr, whom New Orleans selected in the second round in 2018. Further, Penn State has never had a first-round pick.
Though that streak is unlikely to end, Lundy and Pickett could become the first pair of Lions selected in the same draft. Lundy, who accelerated his draft path with a strong week at the NBA Draft Combine, is a projected second-round selection. Sports Illustrated's NBA Draft site likes Lundy as a second-round pick, particularly to a team that needs a dependable shooter. Lundy ranked second in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage (40 percent) and averaged a career-high 14.2 points per game last season. Further, Lundy expanded his scoring ability while continuing to rank among the Big Ten's best one-on-one defenders. That defensive ability will anchor his draft prospects.
"A versatile hybrid prospect that can play anything from off-ball guard to forward, Lundy should get real consideration in the 2023 NBA Draft," Sports Illustrated writes. "He isn’t the most flashy player and his stats don’t jump off the page, but the Big Ten star does nearly everything and impacts winning at a high level. He projects to be a clear role player in the NBA with good size at 6-foot-6."
Pickett also makes some second-round mocks but might need to become a team's favorite to join Lundy in the draft. If he goes undrafted, however, Pickett likely will sign with an NBA team following his All-American season. The point guard became the first Division I player in at least 30 years to average 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game while shooting at least 50 percent from the field. He also ranked among the nation's top 15 in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Where Pickett gets caught, however, is in what Sports Illustrated calls his "unorthodox" game. The 6-4 Pickett ran a unique Penn State offense that called for him to drive the lane, often backing down defenders, and dish outside. He also drove for baskets, rebounded and controlled tempo exceptionally well. Scouts wonder, though, how his broad range of skills will translate to the NBA.
"Pickett is one of those unorthodox players that actually makes it quite difficult to project his fit at the next level," Sports Illustrated writes. "He has plenty of translatable skills, but it will be interesting to see how exactly he impacts the NBA game. His natural feel for the game is impressive, so he should find his place as a role player in the right system. It will take a team that’s really willing to use his unorthodox strengths."
The 2023 NBA Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET Thursday and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN app.
Penn State NBA Draft History
1947: John Rusinko (Round 3, Baltimore)
1953: Herman Slezdik (Round 7, Baltimore)
1955: Jesse Arnelle (Round 2, Fort Wayne Pistons)
1961: Peter Baltic (Round 9, Detroit)
1965: Bob Weiss (Round 3, Philadelphia)
1966: Carver Clinton (Round 11, Philadelphia)
1967: Paul Mickey (Round 14, Washington)
1974: Ron Brown (Round 7, Boston)
1981: Frank Brickowski (Round 3, New York)
1983: Mike Lang (Round 8, New York)
1984: Dick Mumma (Round 10, San Diego)
1999: Calvin Booth (Washington, Round 2)
2018: Tony Carr (New Orleans, Round 2)
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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
