Jeffrey Becker/USA Today Sports
Penn State Achieves a Major Milestone at the NBA Draft
Seth Lundy and Jalen Pickett shared a unique moment of Penn State basketball history late Thursday. After Pickett went to the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets as the 32nd overall pick, Lundy went to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 46 overall. And the 2023 NBA Draft marked the first in which two Lions were selected.
Pickett and Lundy became the program's 14th and 15th overall NBA draft picks, punctuating the Lions memorable 2022-23 season in which they reached the Big Ten tournament final and won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2001.
Lundy's story was among the most intriguing at Penn State last season. He could have left Penn State after the 2021 season, as the program was starting anew with coach Micah Shrewsberry. But Lundy's decision to return benefited both he and the program, producing an NCAA Tournament bid and and a spot in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Lundy, who returned to Penn State for his true senior season in 2022, produced his best year for the program. He averaged a career-high 14.2 points and 6.3 rebounds and shot 40 percent from 3-point range, ranking second in the Big Ten. Lundy's surge in Shrewsberry's offense ran parallel to his consistent defensive play, which helped make Lundy honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Lundy (6-6, 220) brings size to the NBA that he knows how to deploy. He worked to become a steadfast man-to-man defender and aggressive rebounder while also turning himself into a dependable 3-point shooter. Lundy ranked behind only teammate Andrew Funk in 3-point shooting percentage in the Big Ten last season.
According to Sports Illustrated's NBA Draft analysis, Lundy is a versatile player who can switch from off-ball guard to forward smoothly. He also should be a defensive asset for the Hawks. But Lundy's offense will determine his long-term success in the NBA.
"What’s most impressive about Lundy is his smooth jumper," SI writes. "Both in the midrange and from beyond the arc, he should have no problem scoring points outside of the paint at the next level. With that in mind, he generally needs to be created for. He’s also not the best at creating for others, as he produced more turnovers than assists in his college career.
"For Lundy to have success at the next level, it’s all about defense and the 3-point shot. If he can stretch the floor and be versatile with the types of players he can guard, he should be able to earn NBA minutes off the bench at some point. Especially if he can make the most of his time on the court and produce efficiently like we saw last season, he’ll find his place. "
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 (Round 2, Washington)
2018: Tony Carr (Round 2, New Orleans)
2023: Jalen Pickett (Round 2, Denver)
2023: Seth Lundy (Round 2, Atlanta)
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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.
