Can IU basketball have former players chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft for three years in a row?
That’s never happened before in program history, but CBS Sports thinks two current Hoosiers will hear their names called by commissioner Adam Silver on the opening night of the draft in 2025.
Just a day after the 2024 first round, CBS published their too early projection for the 2025 first round.
And they believe not one but two Hoosiers will be selected. If that happens, it would be the first time since 2013 that a pair of former Hoosiers were chosen in the first round, and it would give Mike Woodson five NBA Draft picks in the last three years.
So who are they?
In both cases, these IU sophomores have already shown glimpses of their massive potential.
At No. 19, CBS says the Thunder will pick guard Kanaan Carlyle.
“Kanaan Carlyle is a hot-and-cold shooter, but when he’s locked in — or better yet, when he’s playing more efficiently — then he profiles as an extremely versatile scoring threat,” CBS wrote.
A Stanford transfer, Carlyle showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman. He played a key role in Stanford’s upset of then-No. 4 Arizona on New Year’s Eve, 100-82, with 29 points. He would end up being named the Associated Press National Player of the Week. Carlyle also scored a career-high 31 points against Washington State, breaking the program’s freshman record for scoring in a single game.
Three picks later at No. 22, CBS says the Pelicans will take forward Mackenzie Mgbako.
“In high school, Mgbako’s shot-making from behind the arc was his best asset,” CBS wrote. “His shooting, period, was a strength. That did not translate as a freshman at Indiana, where he shot 39% from the field and 32% from three-point range. Can he improve?”
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2024, Mgbako has already shown improvement during his first season in Bloomington. He made 37.6% from three on five attempts per contest over a 25 game stretch (games 7-31).
Also notable, former IU class of 2024 commit Liam McNeeley is projected to be the No. 8 overall pick next summer.
