ROSEMONT, Ill. – A national-best nine Big Ten Conference men’s basketball players were selected Thursday evening in the 2022 NBA Draft, held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Four Big Ten Conference players were selected in the first round, highlighted by Iowa sophomore forward Keegan Murray, who was a lottery pick with the No. 4 overall selection by the Sacramento Kings.
Joining Murray as lottery picks were Purdue sophomore guard Jaden Ivey (No. 5 overall, Detroit Pistons) and Wisconsin sophomore guard Johnny Davis (No. 10 overall, Washington Wizards), while Ohio State freshman guard Malaki Branham (No. 20 overall, San Antonio Spurs) was also chosen in the first round.
Michigan freshman guard/forward Caleb Houstan was chosen by the Orlando Magic with the No. 32 overall pick in the second round, followed by Michigan State freshman guard Max Christie (No. 35 overall, Los Angeles Lakers), Nebraska freshman guard Bryce McGowens (No. 40 overall, Minnesota Timberwolves rights traded to Charlotte Hornets), Ohio State junior forward E.J. Liddell (No. 41 overall, New Orleans Pelicans), and Michigan freshman forward/center Moussa Diabaté (No. 43, LA Clippers).
The Big Ten Conference’s nine selections in the 2022 NBA Draft are the most among all conferences, and the most picks by the league since it had 10 picks in the 1990 draft.
With the four first-round selections, the Big Ten Conference has had at least three first-round draft picks in six of the last 10 drafts. The Big Ten Conference also extended its streak with at least one first-round selection to 47 consecutive years, dating to the 1976 draft.
Big Ten Conference in the 2022 NBA Draft:
Round/Selection, Player, NBA Team
1/4, Keegan Murray (Iowa), Sacramento Kings
1/5, Jaden Ivey (Purdue), Detroit Pistons
1/10, Johnny Davis (Wisconsin), Washington Wizards
1/20, Malaki Branham (Ohio State), San Antonio Spurs
2/32, Caleb Houstan (Michigan), Orlando Magic
2/35, Max Christie (Michigan State), Los Angeles Lakers
2/40, Bryce McGowens (Nebraska), Minnesota Timberwolves (Rights traded to Charlotte)
2/41, E.J. Liddell (Ohio State), New Orleans Pelicans
2/43, Moussa Diabaté (Michigan), LA Clippers
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