The second round of the 2024 NBA Draft was Kansas’ day, as two Jayhawks were selected as part of three Big 12 players picked.
Johnny Furphy and Kevin McCullar Jr. were the Jayhawks selected, while Houston guard Jamal Shead also found a home.
Furphy was the first Big 12 player to come off the board on Thursday as he was selected No. 35 overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Shortly after, the Spurs traded him to the Indiana Pacers, putting him on the same team with former Iowa State star Tyrese Haliburton.
Furphy, a 6-foot-9 guard, enrolled early at Kansas and emerged as one of the most intriguing players in this draft class with his blend of length and shooting ability. The Melbourne, Australia, product was a 2024 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Big 12 All-Freshman team honoree. He averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading Kansas in 3-point field goals made. He shot nearly 36% from the arc.
McCullar, a 6-foot-7 guard who played six seasons of college basketball — four at Texas Tech and two at Kansas — was selected No. 56 by the Phoenix Suns. With the Jayhawks last season he averaged 18.3 points and 4.1 assists while earning First Team All-Big 12 honors. He missed the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament with an injury.
In between, the Sacaramento Kings selected Shead at No. 45, hours after the Kings traded former Baylor guard Davion Mitchell to Toronto.
In some ways, Shead’s game is similar to Mitchell’s. Shead is a lock-down defender who was the Big 12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year in Houston’s first year in the Big 12. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
He was also a consensus First-Team All-American and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Future Big 12 member Colorado added to its draft haul as guard KJ Simpson went No. 42 overall to Charlotte. The All-Pac-12 First Team pick last season averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Buffs, who re-join the conference on Aug. 1.
Teammates Cody Williams (No. 10 to Utah) and Tristan Da Silva (No. 18 to Orlando) were selected in the first round.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
