Best Big 12 Player Drafted #35: DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M Aggies, by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008.
As we've seen many times (ahem, Josh Selby), when recruiting agencies rank you high coming out of high school you're collegiate on court performance doesn't seem to matter much in deciding when to turn pro. Such is the case of DeAndre Jordan. Despite averaging only 7.9 points - yet an impressive 6 rebounds - per game, Jordan declared for the draft. In doing so after a sub-jaw dropping year, the 8th ranked high school senior in his class was passed on until the 35th pick. It all turned out good and sell for both Jordan and the Clippers, but he may have been able to move up into the first round, with a substantially higher contract had he played another year.
Other Notable Big 12 Players Drafted 35th: P.J. Tucker, Texas Longhorns, by the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
Best Non-Big 12 Player Drafted 35th: Carlos Boozer, Duke Blue Devils, by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2002.
It still remains a mystery how Boozer fell 35 spots. This was well before Sarah Palin made national news, so there wouldn't have been an anti-Alaska bias. How well.
In preparation for the 2011 NBA Draft, each day until June 23 we'll count down the best Big 12 player drafted with each pick. This list only takes into account players who played in the Big 12, so it starts with the 1997 draft. In total 70 Big 12 alumni have been selected, filling 43 of the 60 possible slots.
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