Canaan Set To Be First Racer NBA Draft Pick Since 1996
6/25/2013 9:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball
As the National Basketball Association 2013 draft draws near, Racer fans have become draft prognosticators for Isaiah Canaan who is set to become the first NBA draft pick from Murray State since Marcus Brown was taken by the Portland Trailblazers in 1996.
Canaan will watch the NBA Draft from him hometown in Biloxi, Miss., with family and friends from the Biloxi High School gymnasium where it all started for him.
Racer fans can watch the NBA Draft Thursday (June 27) starting at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Here is the order of the draft from NBA.com.
After a tremendous career that began in 2009 and finished last March, Canaan's impact on the Murray State program will be felt and remembered for many years to come.
He made a splash in being named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and OVC Tournament MVP and ultimately was a multiple All-America pick and two-time OVC Player of the Year. Along the way, Canaan was the sixth player to reach 2,000 points at MSU and the 17th in the OVC as he helped MSU win three straight OVC regular season titles and make two NCAA Tournament trips.
Since his career ended as a Racer, Canaan has jumped into his professional career with a seamless transition.Â
Already considered a lock for the NBA Draft, Canaan performed well at the NBA Combine in mid-May and since has crisscrossed the country taking part in invitation workouts for several teams.
So where will Canaan be taken Thursday?
Among the many mock drafts online, Canaan could go as early as the 19th pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers or as late as the 30th pick to the Phoenix Suns. Possibilities are many in between including the Utah Jazz (No. 21), New York Knicks (No. 24) and Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 29). Some mock drafts have Canaan going in the early second round.
Canaan will be the 21st Murray State player to be drafted by the NBA and the only first round pick if his name gets called. MSU's last three draft picks were all second round selections including: Jeff Martin (L.A. Clippers, 31st pick in 1989), Popeye Jones (Houston Rockets, 41st pick in 1992) and Marcus Brown (Portland Trailblazers, 46th pick in 1996). Stewart Johnson (New York Knicks, 21st pick in 1966) and Dick Cunningham (Phoenix Suns, 21st pick in 1968) make up a total of five Racers that have been taken in the second round. Johnson and Cunningham also hold the mark for the highest Racer selection with both taken as the 21st pick
Here are some links to various NBA Draft observers and where Canaan might be selected.
ESPN.com
SI.com
NBADraft.net
CBSSports.com
DraftExpress.com
BleacherReport.com
FoxSports.com
HoopsWorld.com
Murray State - NBA Draft Selections
Canaan will watch the NBA Draft from him hometown in Biloxi, Miss., with family and friends from the Biloxi High School gymnasium where it all started for him.
Racer fans can watch the NBA Draft Thursday (June 27) starting at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Here is the order of the draft from NBA.com.
After a tremendous career that began in 2009 and finished last March, Canaan's impact on the Murray State program will be felt and remembered for many years to come.
He made a splash in being named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and OVC Tournament MVP and ultimately was a multiple All-America pick and two-time OVC Player of the Year. Along the way, Canaan was the sixth player to reach 2,000 points at MSU and the 17th in the OVC as he helped MSU win three straight OVC regular season titles and make two NCAA Tournament trips.
Since his career ended as a Racer, Canaan has jumped into his professional career with a seamless transition.Â
Already considered a lock for the NBA Draft, Canaan performed well at the NBA Combine in mid-May and since has crisscrossed the country taking part in invitation workouts for several teams.
So where will Canaan be taken Thursday?
Among the many mock drafts online, Canaan could go as early as the 19th pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers or as late as the 30th pick to the Phoenix Suns. Possibilities are many in between including the Utah Jazz (No. 21), New York Knicks (No. 24) and Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 29). Some mock drafts have Canaan going in the early second round.
Canaan will be the 21st Murray State player to be drafted by the NBA and the only first round pick if his name gets called. MSU's last three draft picks were all second round selections including: Jeff Martin (L.A. Clippers, 31st pick in 1989), Popeye Jones (Houston Rockets, 41st pick in 1992) and Marcus Brown (Portland Trailblazers, 46th pick in 1996). Stewart Johnson (New York Knicks, 21st pick in 1966) and Dick Cunningham (Phoenix Suns, 21st pick in 1968) make up a total of five Racers that have been taken in the second round. Johnson and Cunningham also hold the mark for the highest Racer selection with both taken as the 21st pick
Here are some links to various NBA Draft observers and where Canaan might be selected.
ESPN.com
SI.com
NBADraft.net
CBSSports.com
DraftExpress.com
BleacherReport.com
FoxSports.com
HoopsWorld.com
Murray State - NBA Draft Selections
| Player | Year | Round(Pick) | Team |
| Bennie Purcell | 1952 Â Â | NA | Baltimore |
| Garrett Beshear | 1953 | NA | Syracuse |
| Howie Critttenden | 1956 | NA | Minneapolis |
| Quitman Sullins | 1958 | 5 (33) Â Â Â Â | New York |
| Stewart Johnson | 1966 | 2 (21) | New York |
| Don Duncan | 1967 | 10 (112) | San Diego |
| Herb McPherson | 1967 | 5 (55)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | San Diego |
| Dick Cunningham | 1968 | 2 (21) | Phoenix |
| Claude Virden | 1970 | 9 (142) | Seattle |
| Hector Blondet | 1971 | 5 (71) | Portland |
| Ron Johnson | 1971 | 9 (144) | Baltimore |
| Les Taylor | 1973 | 9 (142) | Cleveland |
| Grover Woolard | 1977 | 6 (32) | L.A. Lakers |
| Mike Muff | 1978 | 10 (193) | Golden State |
| Gary Hooker | 1980 | 4 (89) | Seattle |
| Glen Green | 1983 | 6 (119) | Denver |
| Mike Lahm | 1985 | 5 (100) | Detroit |
| Jeff Martin | 1989 | 2 (31) | L.A. Clippers |
| Popeye Jones | 1992 | 2 (41) | Houston |
| Marcus Brown | 1996 | 2 (46) | Portland |
Murray State - Other Leagues Draft Selections
| Player | Year | Round (Pick) | Team | League |
| Johnny Reagan | 1948 | NA | Chicago | BAA |
| Dick Cunningham | 1968 | NA | N.Y Nets | ABA |
| Claude Virden | 1970 | NA | Kentucky | ABA |
| Hector Blondet | 1971 | NA | Virginia | ABA |
| Ron Williams | 1972 | NA | Dallas | ABA |
| *Les Taylor | 1973 | NAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | Kentucky | ABA |
| * Supplemental Draft |
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