Former Syracuse basketball assistant coach Mike Hopkins saw two of his players at the University of Washington get picked in the 2019 NBA Draft Thursday night.
UW Huskies forward Matisse Thybulle, a PAC-12 defensive player of the year, was selected at No. 20 by the Philadelphia 76ers after a trade with the Boston Celtics. Philly gave Boston the No. 24 and No. 33 picks in exchange for Thybulle, who’ll get a chance to play alongside 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
“We are so proud of you @MatisseThybulle!!!” Hopkins wrote on Twitter. “Enjoy your night!!! #family #GoDawgs.”
Jaylen Nowell, who played his entire two-year NCAA career under Hopkins, was picked at No. 43 in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 6′4″ guard was named Pac-12 player of the year for the 2018-19 season, which included the Huskies’ first NCAA Tournament win since 2011.
“Let’s go @JaylenNowell!!! That is what I am talking about!! Born winner! #family #GoDawgs," Hop tweeted.
According to The Seattle Times, it’s the third time two Washington players were chosen in the same NBA Draft in the past seven years. Marquese Chriss (No. 8) and Dejounte Murray (No. 29) were selected in 2016, and Terrence Ross (No. 8) and Tony Wroten Jr. (No. 25) were drafted in 2012.
It’s also the latest positive step in Hopkins’ career with Washington, which went from 9-22 the season before he took over to winning the Pac-12 regular-season title and finishing 26-8 just two years later.
Hopkins’ former employer, meanwhile, Syracuse University, didn’t see any players chosen in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Orange’s Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett went undrafted on Thursday night despite leaving with eligibility remaining.
Former Syracuse recruit Darius Bazley, meanwhile, was selected in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 23 pick, acquired via a trade with the Utah Jazz. The 6′9″ forward from Ohio signed with SU, but opted to skip college altogether and enter the draft after taking a year off.
