June 26, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Kentucky players Julius Randle and James Young were selected in the opening round of the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., becoming the 14th and 15th Wildcats taken in the draft’s opening round in the last five years. Randle was selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, while Young was taken 17th overall by the Boston Celtics.
It is the fifth consecutive NBA draft that Kentucky was represented by multiple players in the first round of the draft. UK is the only program since the draft went to two rounds in 1989 to have multiple players selected in the first round in five-straight years. Kentucky head coach John Calipari is the only coach to have multiple players selected in seven consecutive NBA drafts dating back to his time with Memphis.
| Player | Drafted By | Round | Pick | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julius Randle | Los Angeles Lakers | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| James Young | Boston Celtics | 1 | 17 | 17 |
The duo mark the 111th and 112th Wildcats drafted in the history of the program. Randle’s selection in the top 10 of the draft marked the 11th player in Kentucky history selected in the opening 10 selections since the draft went to two rounds in 1989.
In just five years of the Calipari era, Kentucky has had two No. 1 picks, 15 first-round picks and 19 total players selected in the NBA Draft.
Randle is the fourth Wildcat selected by the Lakers in the history of the program and the first since Joe Crawford in 2008. Young is the fifth player taken by the Celtics and first since Ron Mercer in 1997.
2014 NBA Draft Notes
- Entering the 2014 NBA Draft, Kentucky has had 110 guys drafted 112 times (Johnny Cox ’58 and Roger Newman ’60 both drafted in Jr. eligible draft, but returned for senior year and were drafted again).
- UK has had 36 players selected in the opening round (15 have come in the last five years) of the draft.
- UK has had 19 players selected in the draft over the last five years.
- Kentucky has had eight players selected in the top 10, nine in the top 15 and 15 in the first round of the draft in the last five years.
- With Julius Randle and James Young both being selected in the 2014 draft, UK has notched multiple picks in five consecutive NBA drafts. Kentucky is the only program to have two-or more players selected in the opening round in five consecutive drafts since 1989. Calipari is the only coach to have five consecutive NBA drafts with multiple players selected in the opening round from his school since the draft went to two rounds in 1989.
- Kentucky – 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
- Coach John Calipari has had two or more players selected in seven consecutive NBA drafts dating back to 2008 with Memphis. He has had three players who have been taken No. 1 overall. Following the 2014 draft, Calipari has had eight players taken in the top 10 of the draft in the last five seasons and 15 taken in the first round overall.
- UK has had more NBA Draft selections over the last five years than any other program in the country.
- Since 2000 only 16 coaches have had multiple players taken in the NBA Draft in more than one draft. Here’s a breakdown of coaches who have achieved the feat in multiple seasons since 2000. Calipari is the only coach to have multiple players selected in seven consecutive drafts.
- Rick Barnes (2011, 2010 and 2006 with Texas)
- John Beilein (2014, 2013 with Michigan)
- Jim Boeheim (2010, 2000 with Syracuse)
- Jim Calhoun (2009, 2006, 2004 and 2000 with Connecticut)
- John Calipari (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 with Kentucky; 2009 and 2008 with Memphis)
- Jeff Capel (2010 and 2009 with Oklahoma)
- Billy Donovan (2011, 2007 and 2000 with Florida)
- Ben Howland (2011, 2009, 2008, 2006 with UCLA)
- Bob Huggins (2010 with WVU and 2000 with Cincinnati)
- Tom Izzo (2014, 2006, 2001 and 2000 with Michigan State)
- Mike Krzyzewski (2014, 2013, 2011, 2006, 2004, 2002 with Duke)
- Mike Montgomery (2001 and 2002 with Stanford and 2008 with California)
- Lute Olson (2001 and 2005 with Arizona)
- Bill Self (2014, 2013, 2011, 2008, 2003 with Kansas, 2002 with Illinois)
- Jerry Wainwright (2001 and 2007 with DePaul)
- Roy Williams (2010, 2009, 2007, 2005 with North Carolina)
