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Men's Basketball

Clarke Drafted 21st by Oklahoma City; Trade Pending to Memphis Grizzlies

First time two Zags drafted in first round

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former Gonzaga standout Brandon Clarke was selected as the 21st pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. A trade for the pick is pending with the Memphis Grizzlies.
 
Clarke was the second Gonzaga player taken in the draft Thursday, which marks the third time that two Zags were selected in the same NBA Draft. Rui Hachimura was selected ninth by the Washington Wizards. In 2017, Zach Collins was taken by the Sacramento Kings with the 10th overall pick, before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and Nigel Williams-Goss was selected 55th by the Utah Jazz. Howard Burford (11th round, 171st pick Portland Trail Blazers) and Bill Quigg (15th round, 219th pick, San Diego Rockets) were the only other Bulldogs to achieve the feat in 1971.
 
Clarke was named Wooden All-American, and third team All-American by the Associated Press. He was named the West Coast Conference Defender and Newcomer of the Year. He was also tabbed First Team All-WCC and selected to the USBWA District IX Team. Clarke's 117 blocks were the most in the country, while his 3.16 blocks per game ranked third. He broke the conference single-season record, and ranks sixth in program history for most blocks in a career, with all 117 blocks coming this past season. The Phoenix, Ariz. native, finished second in league history with 52 blocks in conference action.
 
Clarke topped the nation shooting 68.7 percent from the field, which also set a new WCC record. He led the conference, and was ninth in country, making 70.5 percent of his shots inside-the-arc. Clarke averaged 16.9 points per game, which was seventh in the WCC, and 8.6 rebounds per outing, which is third in the league. He led the conference averaging 3.08 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Clarke was the ninth Zag to be drafted in the first round, joining John Stockton in 1984 (16th overall pick, Utah Jazz), Dan Dickau in 2002 (28th overall pick, Sacramento Kings), Adam Morrison in 2006 (3rd overall pick, Charlotte Bobcats), Austin Daye in 2009 (15th overall pick, Detroit Pistons), Kelly Olynyk in 2013 (13th overall pick, Dallas Mavericks), Domantas Sabonis in 2016 (11th overall pick, Orlando Magic), Zach Collins in 2017 (10th overall pick, Sacramento Kings) and Hachimura earlier tonight. Ian Mahinmi was a first round pick and 28th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. Mahinmi had signed a letter-of-intent to attend Gonzaga for the 2005-06 season, but never enrolled in school.
 
Clarke is the 24th GU player selected in the NBA Draft all-time, and the 12th under Head Coach Mark Few.
 
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Players Mentioned

Brandon Clarke

#15 Brandon Clarke

Forward
6' 8"
Redshirt Junior
Rui Hachimura

#21 Rui Hachimura

Forward
6' 8"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Brandon Clarke

#15 Brandon Clarke

6' 8"
Redshirt Junior
Forward
Rui Hachimura

#21 Rui Hachimura

6' 8"
Junior
Forward