Well, Coach Cal did it again. Another year, another draft with multiple first-round NBA Draft picks out of the University of Kentucky. While things may not have gone as hoped, planned, or expected, not many things did Thursday night in the 2013 edition. But that’s OK. Two more Wildcats are into “The Association” and will be signing guaranteed contracts for the foreseeable future, and we could not be more proud of Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin, and we wish them luck in their NBA careers.Here is a handful of links from several media outlets talking about last night’s draft…After draft snub, Nerlens Noel vows to ‘make them pay’ (Scott Gleason, USA Today Sports)
With a perplexed look on his face, Noel tried to force out a smile. When asked about the five teams who passed him, Noel tried to stay positive, but admitted he felt overlooked.
“Oh yeah, I’m going to make them pay,” Noel confided to USA TODAY Sports.
Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams team back up with 76ers (Dan Feldman, NBCSports.com)
Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel have know each other a long time. A very long time. “I knew him before the flat top,” Carter-Williams said. “We’ll say that.”
Wild night for Nerlens Noel (Dan Duggan, BostonHerald.com)
Nerlens Noel’s introduction to the NBA was a whirlwind.The Everett native was favored to be the first pick in last night’s NBA Draft and considered a lock for the top-three. But when David Stern came to the podium to announce the first pick, it was UNLV forward Anthony Bennett receiving a Cleveland Cavaliers hat.
Kentucky’s Noel, Goodwin drafted in first round, then traded (Herald-Leader staff)
Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin got what they wanted but not in the way most expected.Both were selected in the first round of Thursday night’s NBA Draft at Brooklyn, N.Y.The two University of Kentucky freshmen entered the draft after one season of college basketball hoping their choices would pay off in guaranteed first-round pro contracts.That part of the dream was fulfilled.
Kentucky Wildcats’ Nerlens Noel picked 6th by New Orleans (Kyle Tucker, Courier-Journal)
But that wasn’t the last twist. Within minutes of his selection, according to Yahoo! Sports, Noel was traded along with New Orleans’ 2014 first-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for starting point guard Jrue Holiday and the 76ers’ second-round pick this year (No. 42 overall). Only Noel didn’t know that when he walked into his post-draft press conference.
Calipari Q&A at the NBA draft (Kyle Tucker, Courier-Journal)
Caught up briefly with Kentucky coach John Calipari here at the NBA draft. While we wait to see if Nerlens Noel becomes his third No. 1 pick in four years at UK, here’s what he had to say:
Archie Goodwin: Steal of the Draft? (Ben York, Suns.com)
“You can see he’s got the feel,” said Suns Head Coach Jeff Hornacek after Archie Goodwin’s June 14 pre-draft workout for the team. “He’s a guy out there that with some work and a couple of years, he can be a very good player.”Could the Suns have landed the steal of the 2013 NBA Draft?Obviously, only time will tell.
Phoenix Suns move up to nab Archie Goodwin at end of round (Zach Buchanan, azcentral.com)
It was probably more hardship than Goodwin was bargaining for when he picked Kentucky over the likes of Kansas and Connecticut. Playing with the Suns, who completed the second-worst season in franchise history by finishing 25-57 last year, will be an even tougher challenge.
Nerlens Noel’s ACL tear and what to expect (Robert Senior, Philly.com)
“It’s happening again!” That was the initial reaction of many 76ers fans, as news broke that the team was trading All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a package that would bring back much-heralded draft pick Nerlens Noel from the University of Kentucky.
Noel, Goodwin selected in first round of NBA Draft (Eric Lindsey, CoachCal.com)
Noel wasn’t taken as high as predicted while Goodwin was selected higher than most projections had him, but in the end it turned out to be another banner draft night for UK. After Thursday night’s draft, NBA teams have selected 17 players from Kentucky over the last four years – all under Coach Cal – including 13-first-rounders.
