Jayson Tatum, OG Anonuby taken in NBA Draft First Round
In recent years, the state of Missouri has continued to produce high-level basketball talent that has gone on to shine at the national level.
Two of the brightest stars from the Show-Me State realized their lifelong dreams on Thursday night as they were taken in the first round of the National Basketball Association Draft.
Former Chaminade College Prep All-American Jayson Tatum (Class of 2016) was taken by the Boston Celtics with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Jefferson City High product OG Anonuby (Class of 2015) was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the No. 23 pick in the first round. These two players actually played together with the St. Louis Eagles 16U team during the summer of 2013.
Tatum became the third player from Chaminade to be drafted in the first round joining David Lee and Bradley Beal. Anunoby is the first player from Mid-Missouri to be taken in the first round since former Slater standout Joe Kleine was taken in 1985 out of the University of Arkansas.
The 6’9″ Tatum was a McDonald’s All-American and the Gatorade National Prep Player of the Year after a spectacular senior season in which he led Chaminade to the Class 5 state championship. In his one season at Duke, Tatum averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 45 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free throw line. He averaged a robust 22 points a game in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in leading the Blue Devils to the championship.
The 6’8″ Anunoby was a two-time All-State performer at Jefferson City. He spent two seasons at Indiana University, where he averaged 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and shot 55 percent from the field as a sophomore in 2017. His sophomore year lasted only 16 games when he was felled by a season-ending knee injury. Before the injury, Anunoby had established himself as one of the college basketball’s most explosive players. He had produced some highlight reel dunks during the early part of the season. He was seen as a possible lottery prospect before being injured.
Congratulations to these two talented young players from the state of Missouri who have ascended to the highest level of basketball and continuing the tradition of young players who are getting it done.
And more are on the way.