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It was ‘Graduation Day’ as Coach Cal calls it.
The NBA Draft has passed once again, and again, three Wildcats were selected in the first round of the draft. This now makes 38 players that have been drafted in the NBA Draft under John Calipari at Kentucky.
PJ Washington went with pick No. 12 to the Charlotte Hornets, Tyler Herro followed immediately after at pick No. 13 to the Miami Heat, and Keldon Johnson closed out the first round for the Kentucky Wildcats going at pick No. 29 to the San Antonio Spurs after some confusion.
Reid Travis was the lone Wildcat to not hear his name called on draft night, but will not be surprised when he (eventually) signs a training camp deal with a team or participates in the summer league.
Here is all the best reactions to the Wildcats players getting drafted. We’ll start with PJ Washington.
Fired up to add to this wall tonight. Best night of the year #DraftDay pic.twitter.com/shsveLJYdb
— Brady Kennedy (@BradyKennedy_) June 20, 2019
P.J. Washington has been selected 12th overall by the Charlotte Hornets! #BBN pic.twitter.com/33DeWYOEsn
— Eli Gehn (@EliGehnLEX18) June 21, 2019
PJ to the Hornets #BBN
— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) June 21, 2019
pic.twitter.com/9DhVZR6t1c
“I am not sure there is any player in this Draft that benefited more from returning to college than PJ Washington”
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) June 21, 2019
— @JayBilas
I LOVE YOU PJ
— Barstool UK (@BarstoolUK) June 21, 2019
.@hornets 12th pick @pj_washington 3FGA year-over-year with @KentuckyMBB
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 21, 2019
Freshman: 5/21 (23.8% 3FG%)
Sophomore: 33/78 (42.3% 3FG%)
First two photos show a much more clean + compact release point + balance hand as compared to last season, the second two photos pic.twitter.com/rwVh6a3obO
I was worried Cal wasn’t at the draft #HisGuys pic.twitter.com/TOgGrwK1ph
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) June 21, 2019
2017: Malik Monk
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 21, 2019
2018: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2019: PJ Washington @KentuckyMBB ➡️ @hornets pic.twitter.com/ITYPo3v8An
WELCOME TO #BUZZCITY, PJ WASHINGTON!#NBADraft pic.twitter.com/nENDafOdc4
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 21, 2019
Congratulations, PJ! So happy for you and your family.#DreamBIG | @PJWashington pic.twitter.com/hNXpRw9GzE
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 21, 2019
Tyler Herro:
Heat select Tyler Herro with the No. 13 pick pic.twitter.com/RyH3ey7WZZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2019
Congratulations @raf_tyler on taking the next step to the NBA. All your hard work and dedication further shows the quality person and player you are. Proud to say you are a Falcon, a Wildcat, and now a member of the Heat! #whitnallpride #WhitnALLin
— Whitnall Athletics (@whitnallAD) June 21, 2019
Tyler Herro was born to wear the Miami Heat Vice alternate jerseys. pic.twitter.com/k3B7DsBisw
— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) June 21, 2019
6-6, 192 pound + 19-year-old #kentucky guard prospect Tyler Herro is rightfully known as a shooter + scorer but he has good defensive instincts and competes at a high level, which should help his cause against the athletes + length that he'll face in the #NBA pic.twitter.com/CkF8jP11DT
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 21, 2019
BBN @raf_tyler Welcome Lil Bro
— 13am Adebayo (@Bam1of1) June 21, 2019
Back-to-back Cats are off the board!
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) June 21, 2019
Congrats to @KentuckyMBB's Tyler Herro! #BBN #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/6Hx203grxW
Ok Tyler Herro i hope you’re ready to work. It’s the @MiamiHEAT way. Let’s go!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 21, 2019
It was bound to happen for Tyler Herro! #tbt pic.twitter.com/T6srWPyABV
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 21, 2019
Tyler Herro is a Lottery Pick
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) June 21, 2019
Anyone that says John Calipari can’t develop players just had their argument deflated
#14 for @raf_tyler!
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 21, 2019
Order yours now - https://t.co/hBcNfOVhlY pic.twitter.com/lAAKmTqqrd
We initially thought that Keldon Johnson was on his way to Cleveland at the 26th pick, but it turned out that was a false report:
Sources: Cleveland selected Dylan Windler -- not Keldon Johnson.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2019
Keldon was eventually picked at 29th by the San Antonio Spurs:
With the 29th pick of the @NBADraft, the @spurs select Keldon Johnson!
— NBA (@NBA) June 21, 2019
#NBADraft 2019 presented by State Farm pic.twitter.com/Qwjm41MOsz
Better late than never.... what a steal for the Spurs. Keldon bout to go off
— Barstool UK (@BarstoolUK) June 21, 2019
Keldon to the Spurs!
— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) June 21, 2019
pic.twitter.com/aTHKYQMYjC
What kind of player did the Spurs just get in Keldon Johnson?
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 21, 2019
According to him? A pitbull https://t.co/CLY9pXLa5h pic.twitter.com/t3lxAZ2QXC
Here’s a look at Keldon Johnson - the 29th pick in the 2019 #NBADraft selected by the #SanAntonio #Spurs - at his Pro Day in #Phoenix earlier this month. The 6-6, 216 pound + 19-year-old made 38.1% of his triples in 37 games as a freshman with @KentuckyMBB pic.twitter.com/ExdJSADdZq
— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) June 21, 2019
Keldon is the first ever Kentucky Wildcat to be selected by the Spurs.
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 21, 2019
Keldon Johnson's jacket had a jacket #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/RD3GXA4yp4
— ESPN (@espn) June 21, 2019
C-A-T-S ... Three Kentucky 2019 First Round #NBADraft picks. pic.twitter.com/qzFutb6odX
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 21, 2019
Congratulations, Keldon! This is only the beginning for you.#DreamBIG pic.twitter.com/t5Vqcbrm9J
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 21, 2019