Big Ten Nets 8 NBA Draft Picks

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Eight Big Ten Conference men’s basketball players were selected Thursday evening in the 2023 NBA Draft, held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This marks just the fourth time since 2000 that at least eight Big Ten players have been chosen in the NBA Draft (2000, 2018, 2022, 2023).

Five of those picks came in the first round, marking the first time since 2014 that five former Big Ten players have come off the board in the first round.

The first two Big Ten selections came from Michigan, with freshman Jett Howard and sophomore Kobe Bufkin drafted 11th and 15th,  respectively. Indiana freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino went to the Lakers at No. 17, with Iowa junior Kris Murray heading to the Portland Trailblazers as the No. 23 pick. The Utah Jazz selected Ohio State freshman Brice Sensabaugh with the 28th  pick as the league’s final first round pick.

Penn State seniors Jalen Pickett (No. 32, Indiana Pacers) and Seth Lundy (No. 46, Atlanta Hawks) joined Indiana junior Trayce Jackson-Davis (No. 57, Washington Wizards) as second round selections.   

Only the SEC had more total draft picks (10) and first round selections (six) than the Big Ten.

With the five first-round selections, the Big Ten Conference has had at least three first-round draft picks in seven of the last 11 drafts. The Big Ten Conference also extended its streak with at least one first-round selection to 48 consecutive years, dating to the 1976 draft, and the first time since 

Big Ten Conference in the 2023 NBA Draft:
Round/Selection, Player, NBA Team
1/11, Jett Howard (Michigan), Orlando Magic
1/15, Kobe Bufkin (Michigan), Atlanta Hawks
1/17, Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana), Los Angeles Lakers
1/23, Kris Murray (Iowa), Portland Trailblazers
1/28, Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State), Utah Jazz
2/32, Jalen Pickett (Penn State), Indiana Pacers
2/46, Seth Lundy (Penn State), Atlanta Hawks
2/57, Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana), Washington Wizards