Wilson Goes 17th Overall, Becomes Eighth NBA Draftee in Beilein Era
6/22/2017 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- University of Michigan men's basketball forward D.J. Wilson was selected tonight (Thursday, June 22) by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 17th overall pick at the 2017 NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center. Wilson's selection makes him the eighth Wolverine to be drafted under U-M head coach John Beilein and the 58th in program history.
Wilson becomes U-M's sixth first-round selection since 2013 and eighth Wolverine selected on Beilein's list: Darius Morris (2011, 41st by Los Angeles Lakers), Trey Burke (2013, 9th by Minnesota Timberwolves), Tim Hardaway Jr. (2013, 24th by New York Knicks), Nik Stauskas (2014, 8th by Sacramento Kings), Mitch McGary (2014, 21st by Oklahoma City Thunder), Glenn Robinson III (2014, 40th by Minnesota Timberwolves) and Caris LeVert (2016, 20th by Indiana Pacers).
During his three years with the Maize and Blue, Wilson started 36 of 69 games. After a knee injury five games into his freshman season, Wilson elected to redshirt the remainder of the season and was eventually awarded a medical. The following season, he came off the bench in 26 games, averaging 2.7 points in 6.1 minutes per game.
It was not until this past season that Wilson emerged, starting 36 of 38 games while averaging 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Helping the Wolverines to the Big Ten Tournament title with four wins in four days, Wilson was instrumental in guiding U-M to a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament.
The Sacramento, California, native led U-M with 203 total boards, making him the first Wolverine to record 200-plus rebounds since McGary (2012-13). Wilson added four double-doubles and became a threat from long range, making 41 triples while shooting 37.3 percent. Wilson's 57 blocks were the most by a Wolverine in nine seasons.
U-M currently has seven players active in the NBA: Wilson (Milwaukee Bucks), LeVert (Brooklyn Nets), Burke (Washington Wizards), Hardaway (Atlanta Hawks), Stauskas (Philadelphia 76ers), Robinson (Indiana Pacers) and Jamal Crawford (Los Angeles Clippers).
Michigan & the NBA Draft
• Michigan has had 58 players selected in the NBA Draft.
• Michigan has had six first-round selections since 2013 and 26 total.
• Dating back to 1988, U-M has had 17 of its last 25 players chosen in the first round.
