GREENSBORO, N.C. (TheACC.com) – Seven Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball players were chosen Thursday evening in the 2022 NBA Draft, which was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Six ACC players were selected in the first round, the most of any league. The ACC’s draft contingent was led by Duke freshman forward Paolo Banchero, who was the No. 1 overall selection by the Orlando Magic. Banchero is the ACC’s 12th NBA No. 1 draft pick, most of any conference.
Duke sophomore center Mark Williams (No. 15 overall, Charlotte), Duke freshman guard AJ Griffin (No. 16, Atlanta), Wake Forest junior forward Jake LaRavia (No. 19, Minnesota), Notre Dame freshman guard Blake Wesley (No. 25, San Antonio) and Duke junior forward Wendell Moore Jr. (No. 26, Houston) also were selected in the first round. Picking any of these players is like a big casino bonus.
The ACC has now had at least three first-round draft picks in each of the last 14 drafts – the only conference to do so. The ACC extended its streak with at least one first-round selection to 34 consecutive years, dating to the 1989 draft.
Over the last nine drafts (2014-22), the ACC leads all conferences with 55 first-round selections. The ACC now has had 32 top 14 selections over the last 13 years and since 1996 leads all conferences with 57 lottery selections.
Duke freshman guard Trevor Keels was picked in the second round (42nd overall) by the New York Knicks.
Four Duke players were selected in the first round, tying a program record and marking just the fourth time an ACC program has had four first-round draft picks (Duke 1999, UNC 2005, UNC 2012). The Blue Devils’ total of five selections in the 2022 draft was the most of any school this year.
ACC in the 2022 NBA Draft:
Round/Selection, Player, NBA Team
1/1, Paolo Banchero (Duke), Orlando
1/15, Mark Williams (Duke), Charlotte
1/16, AJ Griffin (Duke), Atlanta
1/19, Jake LaRavia (Wake Forest), Minnesota (proposed trade to Memphis)
1/25, Blake Wesley (Notre Dame), San Antonio
1/26, Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke), Houston (proposed trade to Minnesota)
2/42, Trevor Keels (Duke), New York
Paolo Banchero, Fr., F, Duke
First Round/First Overall, Orlando Magic
Banchero was a consensus Second-Team All-America and First-Team All-ACC selection during his rookie season at Duke. He led all true freshmen nationally in scoring at 17.2 points per game while ranking sixth among true freshmen in rebounding (7.8) and fifth in field goal percentage (47.8%). His 12 double-doubles and 15 games of 20 or more points were each the most by a power conference true freshman. He averaged 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists over eight games in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments while helping lead Duke to the Final Four.
Mark Williams, So., C, Duke
First Round/No. 15 Overall, Charlotte Hornets
The 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Third-Team All-ACC pick, Williams led the ACC and ranked 12th nationally in blocked shots per game (2.82). His 110 blocked shots were the fifth most nationally. Williams averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He ranked sixth in the ACC in rebounds per game, and his 7.9 boards in conference-only games ranked third in the league.
AJ Griffin, Fr. G, Duke
First Round/16th Overall, Atlanta Hawks
An honorable mention All-ACC selection and member of the ACC All-Freshman Team, Griffin averaged 10.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He shot 49.3% from the field, including 44.7% from 3-point range. The freshman was Duke's second-leading scorer in ACC play at 12.6 points per game, while shooting 48.9% from behind the arc and averaging 4.5 rebounds per contest.
Jake LaRavia, Jr., F, Wake Forest
First Round /19th Overall, Minnesota Timberwolves (proposed trade to Memphis)
LaRavia notched All-ACC second team honors in his debut season at Wake Forest, averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks. His 55 steals for the season tied for the 15th most in program history. He ranked third in the ACC in field goal percentage (55.9%), sixth in steals and 10th in free-throw percentage (77.7%).
Blake Wesley, Fr., G, Notre Dame
First Round/25th Overall, San Antonio Spurs
Wesley earned 2022 Second-Team All-ACC honors and was an ACC All-Freshman Team honoree. He averaged a team-high 14.4 points per game as well as 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. His numbers were even better in league play, as he averaged 15.5 ppg, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Wendell Moore Jr., Jr., F, Duke
First Round /26th Overall, Houston Rockets (proposed trade to Minnesota)
Trevor Keels, Fr., G, Duke
Second Round/42nd Overall, New York Knicks
Keels was Duke’s third-leading scorer this season at 11.5 points per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. An ACC All-Freshman Team honoree, the versatile guard also finished with 98 assists against just 45 turnovers for a 2.17 assist-to-turnover ratio. His 44 steals were the team's second most.
