Nba Draft

Richards, a former Kentucky Wildcat, was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans but was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

The former Jamaica College athlete went into the draft on the back of his best season ever at Kentucky, averaging 14 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game plus 10 double doubles while shooting at  a conference high .644 field-goal percentage, pundits expected him to go undrafted.

However, Kentucky head coach John Calipari, always had faith in the 6-11 centre.

“What Nick has been able to do with his body, his mind and mastering his skills, it’s been incredible and rewarding to watch as a coach,” Calipari said. “It’s been a pleasure to see him grow into the player and the young man he has become, and he’s done it all because of his hard work and his dedication. It has all paid off.”

Richards led the Wildcats with 66 blocks, including 18 games with multiple rejections. He closed his college career with ranked third all-time in field-goal percentage of .628 with a minimum of 50 attempts. He also ranks 10th all-time with 146 career blocks, and his 528 rebounds rank 46th.

The 7-2 Seton Hall alum, who was not expecting to be drafted, signed an Exhibit 10 contract, which is essentially a training camp invite that guarantees the player up to USD$50K if he's waived and then is assigned to the NBA team's G League affiliate.

Last season, Gill averaged 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks en route to being named both the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and its Most Improved Player. He runs the floor well for a big man and, on the advice of NBA personnel, has been working on his mid-range game.

“I’m going to bring the energy,” the former St Thomas Technical player told NJ Advance Media before the draft. “I’m not going to stop. I’m just going to go out there and do my best every game. I’m going to be open to whatever the coaches have to say. Just hoping to learn and adjust to whatever program I’m in.”

If he is not cut by the Jazz, Gill will join former Jamaica College and Kentucky Wildcat Nick Richards as Jamaican players signed by NBA teams coming out of the draft. Richards was selected 42^nd overall in the second round of the draft on Wednesday and subsequently traded to Charlotte.