Dreams are set to become reality for three St. John’s basketball players as the grind of the pre-draft process is finally over.
Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins nearly worked out for half of the teams in the NBA and stayed in contact with each other throughout the journey, beginning at the NBA Combine and comparing notes from workouts with organizations.
Now, they hope to hear their names called either Tuesday or Wednesday night at the NBA Draft in Brooklyn but there’s a wide range where each player could land.
Zuby Ejiofor has been considered as the highest ranked Johnnies throughout the draft process, being thought of as a mid-to-late first round pick, but the Big East Player of the Year was not invited to the NBA Draft Green Room.
It has casted some doubt as to if he will become the first St. John’s player to be picked in the first round since Maurice Harkless in 2012 since the NBA tries to protect prospects and their families from having grueling waits in the green room while television cameras focus on them.
Dillon Mitchell has been one of the biggest risers in the pre-draft process, rocketing up many draft boards following his outstanding NBA Combine. Mitchell was projected as a late second round pick nearly a month ago while now many believe he could be selected as high as an early second round pick.
The same can be said for Bryce Hopkins, who made his impact known immediately at the NBA G-League Combine and got a promotion to the NBA Combine. After not having his name appear on various mock drafts throughout the process, Hopkins is popping up in the mid-to-late second round as draft day approaches.
St. John’s has not had a player picked in the NBA Draft since 2015 and the last time three Johnnies were selected in the same draft was 1983, which was a ten-round draft.
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