Haliburton, Azubuike and Bane Headline the Big 12’s Night in the NBA Draft

Four former Big 12 men’s basketball players were selected in the 2020 NBA draft Wednesday evening, with former Iowa State Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton coming off the board first.

ICYMI last night 👀

From #Big12MBB ➡️ @NBA 🏀

⏺️ @CycloneMBB's Tyrese Haliburton
⏺️ @KUHoops' Udoka Azubuike
⏺️ @TCUBasketball's Desmond Bane
⏺️ @TexasTechMBB's Jahmi'us Ramsey

Details ➡️ https://t.co/Cc1ys81R3P pic.twitter.com/aIyTz1CfxV

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 19, 2020

Haliburton was selected 12th overall in the first round by the Sacramento Kings. Haliburton played against the Mountaineers just once last season, a 76-61 Iowa State loss. Haliburton scored 12 points with five rebounds and five steals in that game. He was guarded primarily by WVU guard Jermaine Haley, who held Haliburton to one of his lowest scoring outputs of the season.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼, @TyHaliburton22! 👑 pic.twitter.com/llp4qalVlq

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 19, 2020

Former Kansas Jayhawk Udoka Azubuike was the next Big 12 product to come off the board, selected 27th overall in the first round by the Utah Jazz. Azubuike was named the Big 12 Player of the Year following last season. In two games against the Mountaineers, Azubuike scored 23 total points and had 18 rebounds. The senior was often matched up against WVU freshman Oscar Tshiebwe.

With the 27th pick: Welcome Udoka Azubuike from @KUHoops!#JazzDraft2020 | @UofUHealth pic.twitter.com/T5PTa4mICn

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) November 19, 2020

Three picks later, former TCU guard Desmond Bane was selected 30th overall by the Boston Celtics and was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Bane was a first-team All-Big 12 selection after last season. The final Big 12 player to be selected was Jahmi’us Ramsey from Texas Tech, who went 43rd overall in the second round to the Sacramento Kings.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼, @newanimprovedJR! 👑 pic.twitter.com/4tviMt12Na

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 19, 2020

Following the draft, former Jayhawk Devon Doctson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bulls and former Baylor BEar Freddie Gillespie signed with the Dallas Mavericks.

WVU’s Jermaine Haley declared for the NBA draft but was not selected and has not yet signed as an undrafted free agent.