Tennessee Basketball's history in the NBA Draft, the draft lottery and the first round
Dalton Knecht on Wednesday night is set to become Tennessee’s third lottery pick in the NBA Draft, the fourth first-round pick during the Rick Barnes era and the eighth player drafted under Barnes over the last six drafts.
Knecht is widely projected to be a top-ten pick in the draft, which starts with the first round at 8 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday on ABC and ESPN.
Five players in Tennessee Basketball program history have been selected within the first 11 picks of the NBA Draft. Tom Boerwinkle went at No. 4 overall to the Chicago Bulls in 1968 and is Tennessee’s highest draft pick.
Bernard King was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft and Dale Ellis was picked at No. 9 overall in 1983. Allan Houston in 1993 and Ernie Grunfeld in 1977 were both picked at No. 11 overall.
Tennessee Basketball’s history in the NBA Draft Lottery
Tennessee Basketball has had two players selected in the NBA Draft lottery: Allan Houston at No. 9 in 1993 and Marcus Haislip in 2002, at No. 13. Both players were selected with the final lottery pick in their respective drafts.
The lottery dates back to 1985, when it was just seven picks. It went to nine picks in 1989 and 11 in 1990. The 1995 draft was the first with 13 lottery picks. It went to 14 picks, where it remains today, in 2004.
Houston spent 12 seasons in the NBA, playing the first three for the Detroit Pistons before finding his home and playing nine seasons with the New York Knicks. For his career he averaged 17.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 44.4% from the field and 40.2% from the 3-point line over 839 games in the NBA.
Haislip played 89 career games in the NBA four seasons, averaging 3.5 points and 1.5 rebounds, shooting 43.7% from the field and 35.0% from the 3-point line while spending time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.
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Houston starred for Tennessee from 1990 to 1993, averaging 21.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 128 career games. He shot 46.0% from the field and 42.4% from the 3-point line.
Haisilip spent three seasons at Tennessee from 1999 to 2002, averaging 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, shooing 50.3% from the field in 17.1 minutes per game.
Tennessee’s NBA Draft history, picks during the Rick Barnes era
Knecht is the eighth and highest draft pick during the Rick Barnes era. Keon Johnson went at No. 21 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 NBA Draft, followed by Jaden Springer at No. 28 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. Julian Phillips was picked at No. 35 overall by the Chicago Bulls last year and Kennedy Chandler went at No. 38 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022.
Tennessee had three players selected in the 2019 NBA Draft. Grant Williams went at No. 22 overall to the Boston Celtics, Admiral Schofield went at No. 42 overall to the Washington Wizards and Jordan Bone was No. 57 pick to the Detroit Pistons.
There have been 54 Tennessee players drafted dating back to 1948. There have been 12 Vols picked in the first round, with Barnes responsible for four.
