Bouknight Goes to Charlotte
The Story: James Bouknight‘s journey to the NBA is complete as he became the UConn’s first draft pick in five years when the Charlotte Hornets took him with the 11th pick on Thursday night.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: We are surprised that Bouknight dropped and don’t know why. Everything we read prior to the draft had Bouknight going between fifth and eighth. He is the 44th UConn player drafted and the 11th lottery pick in school history. Bouknight wasn’t happy dropping to Charlotte and having that type of chip on his shoulder should do him well. The last NBA draft pick out of UConn was Daniel Hamilton, a late second-round pick in 2016. Before Bouknight, the last first-round pick was Shabazz Napier in 2014.
WHAT DID BOUKNIGHT SAY? “The whole time, every pick, pick after pick, I was just sitting there in my head like, ‘OK, I got a chip on my shoulder again. They sleep. You know what I’m saying? So, it’s nothing different. My whole life I’ve been slept on and Charlotte took the chance and I’m not going to let them down.”
HOW DOES HE FIT IN CHARLOTTE? The Hornets were a rising playoff team a year ago before injuries took Gordon Hayward and rookie of the year LaMelo Ball off the floor. Bouknight slides into the wing rotation and can play alongside Ball, Hayward, Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier. The Hornets need scorers and Bouknight is going to fit in well as a classic shooting guard for Michael Jordan’s team. UConn has a Charlotte connection with Emeka Okafor and Kemba Walker also lottery picks of the Hornets.
HURLEY’S VIRTUAL CELEBRATION: Dan Hurley was supposed to be in the green room with Bouknight for the recruiting money shot — hugging Bouknight after his name is called. Hurley and assistant Kimani Young did not go with Bouknight to the draft as planned because both are following COVID-19 protocols after a staff outbreak.
OUR TAKE: Bouknight is an important player for UConn as the first player drafted who played under Hurley. There is no other proof of talent and development for a college program than producing NBA draft picks. Bouknight was not a top-50 prospect out of high school but turned himself into a lottery pick in two years. Not a bad pitch on the recruiting trail for the staff.
