Kentucky ties NBA draft record with four lottery picks

Kentucky tied the NBA draft lottery record with four players selected on Thursday.

Kentucky tied the NBA draft lottery record with four players selected on Thursday.

Big man Karl-Anthony Towns went to the Minnesota Timberwolveswith the No. 1 pick, followed by forward Willie Cauley-Stein to the Sacramento Kingsat No. 6, forward Trey Lyles to the Utah Jazzat No. 12 and guard Devin Booker to the Phoenix Sunsat No. 13.

Seven members of Kentucky’s 2014–2015 roster declared for the draft after the Wildcats made the Final Four.

Towns, widely expected to be the No. 1 pick beforehand, averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in just 21.1 minutes per game thanks to John Calipari’s platoon system.

• SI.com NBA draft tracker

Cauley-Stein was considered one of the safer picks in the draft due to his elite defensive skills and pedigree at Kentucky, and Lyles holds solid potential as a player who might’ve played somewhat out of position at Kentucky. Booker, a 6'6" shooting guard, impressed scouts with his shooting ability leading up to the draft and likely improved his draft stock.

Two Wildcats also went in the second round. The Suns selected Andrew Harrison with the No. 44 pick but will reportedly send him to the Grizzlies. The Thunder took Dakari Johnson with the No. 48 pick. 

- Mike Fiammetta