UK’s Tyler Ulis now projected as a first-round NBA pick in 2016
University of Kentucky basketball star Tyler Ulis is now projected as a first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft, according to the latest mock draft from DraftExpress.com posted Monday.
Ulis moved up to the No. 26 spot. The sophomore point guard spent much of the season projected as a mid-second round selection and was No. 32 overall in the previous mock draft, which was posted last week.
That was before Ulis led Kentucky to the SEC Tournament title, averaging 20.7 points and 5.0 assists per game and playing all 45 minutes in the Wildcats’ championship game victory over Texas A&M. He scored a career-high 30 points in that game.
UK freshmen Jamal Murray (No. 7) and Skal Labissiere (No. 10) held their same positions as last week’s mock draft. Fellow freshman Isaiah Briscoe is no longer projected in this year’s draft. DraftExpress.com pegs him as the No. 39 pick in 2017.
Duke freshman Brandon Ingram also overtook Louisiana State freshman Ben Simmons for the No. 1 overall spot in the new mock draft. DraftExpress.com analyst Jonathan Givony explained why Simmons is no longer projected as the No. 1 pick in a post on Yahoo Sports.
Ben Roberts: 859-231-3216, @NextCats
This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 4:20 PM with the headline "UK’s Tyler Ulis now projected as a first-round NBA pick in 2016."