For five dozen young men, dreams came true Wednesday night at the annual NBA Draft. Those basketball players are now part of an exclusive group and are among the best players in the world. Many of those chosen splashed onto the national scene right here in Fort Myers at the Culligan City of Palms Classic, including No. 3 pick LaMelo Ball, who is going to Charlotte Hornets.
LaMelo and his two brothers took COP by storm back in 2015 when they came to town and ended up with the championship trophy. Just a 5’10” freshman at the time, LaMelo averaged 16 points per game that season including 27 in his first game as a starter. He went on to win National Freshman of the Year honors and helped lead his team to the mythical national championship with a 35-0 record.
Here’s a complete list of the COP alum that heard their names called at this draft, along with their high school and the NBA team that chose them:
2. James Wiseman – Memphis East HS, Memphis, Tenn. (Golden State Warriors)
3. LaMelo Ball – Chino Hills HS, Chino Hills, Calif. (Charlotte Hornets)
5. Isaac Okoro – McEachern HS, Powder Springs, Ga. (Cleveland Cavaliers)
6. Onyeka Onkongwu – Chino Hills HS, Chino Hills, Calif. (Atlanta Hawks)
15. Cole Anthony – Archbishop Molloy, Briarwood, NY; Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (Orlando Magic)
18. Josh Green – IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (Dallas Mavericks)
20. Precious Achiuwa – Memphis East HS, Memphis, Tenn. and Montverde, FL (Miami Heat)
26. Payton Pritchard – West Linn HS, West Linn, Ore. (Boston Celtics)
27. Udoka Azubuike – Potter’s House, Jacksonville, Fla. (Utah Jazz)
32. Vernon Carey, Jr. – University School Davie, Fla. (Charlotte Hornets)
42. Nick Richards – Patrick School, Elizabeth, N.J. (New Orleans Pelicans)