Jordan Clarkson Drafted No. 46 Overall, Headed To The Lakers
6/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 26, 2014
Columbia, Mo. - 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).
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Missouri in the NBA Draft
Year Name Team Round Pick 2014 Jordan Clarkson Washington Wizards 2nd 46th (To L.A. Lakers) 2013 Alex Oriakhi Phoenix Suns 2nd 57th 2012 Kim English Detroit Pistons 2nd 44th Marcus Denmon San Antonio Spurs 2nd 59th 2009 DeMarre Carroll Memphis Grizzlies 1st 27th 2005 Linas Kleiza Portland Trailblazers 1st 27th (To Denver Nuggets) 2004 Rickey Paulding Detroit Pistons 2nd 54th 2002 Kareem Rush Toronto Raptors 1st 20th (To L.A. Lakers) 2000 Keyon Dooling Orlando Magic 1st 10th (To L.A. Clippers) 1994 Jevon Crudup Detroit Pistons 2nd 48th 1992 Anthony Peeler Los Angeles Lakers 1st 15th 1991 Doug Smith Dallas Mavericks 1st 5th 1989 Byron Irvin Portland Trail Blazers 1st 22nd Gary Leonard Minnesota Timberwolves 2nd 34th 1988 Derrick Chievous Houston Rockets 1st 16th 1986 Dan Bingenheimer Golden St. Warriors 4th 75th Jeff Strong Milwaukee Bucks 7th 151st 1985 Greg Cavener Golden St. Warriors 5th 95th Malcolm Thomas Los Angeles Clippers 6th 121st 1984 Prince Bridges Detroit Pistons 5th 103rd 1983 Steve Stipanovich Indiana Pacers 1st 2nd Jon Sundvold Seattle Supersonics 1st 16th 1982 Ricky Frazier Chicago Bulls 2nd 26th Marvin McCrary Phoenix Sun 5th 108th 1981 Curtis Berry Kansas City Kings 3rd 58th 1980 Larry Drew Detroit Pistons 1st 17th 1978 Clay Johnson Portland Trail Blazers 5th 110th 1977 Kim Anderson Portland Trail Blazers 2nd 28th Jim Kennedy Detroit Pistons 5th 102nd Scott Sims San Antonio Spurs 5th 103rd 1976 Willie Smith Chicago Bulls 2nd 18th 1974 Al Eberhard Detroit Pistons 1st 15th Gary Link Buffalo Braves 6th 99th 1973 John Brown Atlanta Hawks 1st 10th Mike Jeffries KC-Omaha Kings 7th 110th 1971 Henry Smith Milwaukee Bucks 4th 68th 1970 Don Tomlinson Cleveland Cavaliers 14th 209th 1968 Gene Jones Milwaukee Bucks 10th 134th 1967 Ron Coleman San Diego 9th 102nd 1964 Ray Bob Carey San Francisco -- -- 1961 Charles Henke Los Angeles Lakers -- -- 1956 Norm Stewart St. Louis -- -- 1955 Bob Reiter Ft. Wayne -- -- 1952 Bill Stauffer Boston Celtics -- --
