Mizzou Basketball continues to have success on NBA Draft night. Jordan Clarkson (San Antonio, Texas) became the fourth former Missouri standout to hear his name called in the NBA Draft since 2012 as he was selected by the Washington Wizards (Rd. 2, No. 46 overall) before having the Los Angeles Lakers trade for his draft rights Thursday night.
Clarkson joins Kim English (Detroit Pistons, 2012), Marcus Denmon (San Antonio Spurs, 2012) and Alex Oriakhi (Phoenix Suns, 203) as Tigers drafted into the NBA since 2012. They also join Phil Pressey (2013, Boston Celtics) who played in 75 games and averaged 3.2 assists per contest for the Boston Celtics last season as a free agent.
“What an incredible honor for Missouri to have Jordan Clarkson selected in tonight’s NBA Draft,” Mizzou Head Coach Kim Anderson said. “Missouri, from my time here as a player, on through my time as a coach, has helped produce some great NBA talent and that trend will continue. I had the privilege to coach against and follow Jordan and also Jabari Brown’s careers here at Mizzou and I applaud them for their hard work, passion and professionalism in all areas of life. I will continue to follow all of our former players as professionals and look forward to welcoming them back home to Mizzou for many years to come.”
Clarkson becomes the 44th Tiger drafted all-time. He is also joins former Mizzou standout Kareem Rush to be drafted and then traded for by the Lakers since the 2002 draft. Rush was drafted No. 20 overall in 2002 by Toronto before heading to LA.
In his one season in a Mizzou uniform Clarkson was named Second Team All-Southeastern Conference (2014) and ranked second on the team in scoring (17.5 ppg) and tops in assists (3.4). He reached double-figures in 34-of-35 games as a junior and was named the SEC’s Player of the Week on three occasions. Also named a Wooden Award National Player of the Year Midseason Top 25 performer, Clarkson scored a career high 31 points in Missouri’s home win over Southern Illinois (Nov. 12) and ranked second on the team with 14 20-point scoring games. The San Antonio, Texas, native topped 20 points in five consecutive non-league contests including 25 points vs. West Virginia (Dec. 5) and 21 vs. UCLA (Dec. 7). He dished a career high eight assists to go with 25 points vs. Illinois (Dec. 21) in the annual Bud Light Braggin’ Rights game and narrowly missed 30-point games with 28 coming against national runner-up Kentucky (Feb. 1) and 27 vs. Arkansas (Feb. 13).
Clarkson also finished among the SEC’s Top 10 in several statistical categories, including scoring (seventh, 17.5), assists (seventh, 3.4), field goal percentage (ninth, .447), assist/turnover ratio (ninth, 1.3) and minutes played (third, 35.1).
Clarkson is the fourth Tiger headed to the Lakers on draft night. In addition to Rush (2002), he joins Anthony Peeler (1992) and Charles Henke (1961).
— MU Sports Information —