- Slug: Sports-Suns Draft, 524 words
- Photo, video available (Suns GM McDonough1 on draft https://youtu.be/5Lgxi5qpsL8; Suns GM McDonough2 on draft https://youtu.be/sd6b35bLehw; Suns Earl Watson on draft https://youtu.be/mQ-ZDPKMmGI
By LANDON BROWN
Cronkite News
PHOENIX — “I think we’re the favorites for the 2017 SEC championship,” Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough said during Friday’s press conference introducing the team’s draft picks.
After selecting Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis with the 34th overall pick, the Suns have a starting lineup of Wildcats. Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, Archie Goodwin, Brandon Knight and Ulis make the Suns the only team in the NBA with four or more Kentucky players.
Ulis’ journey from Wildcat to the NBA is a “dream come true.”
“Being in New York, spending time with my family, seeing everyone’s reaction, everyone crying and hugging. It’s just a great feeling to be here. It was definitely worth the wait,” Ulis said.
Booker, 19, and Ulis, 20, shared a brotherhood at Kentucky. In Phoenix, they look to have the same chemistry. Although Ulis slid down the draft board more than he hoped, he knew he was going to be picked by the Suns two picks before his name was called thanks to Booker, who was at the draft and privy to the Suns’ selection.
“We’re really close as best friends,” said Ulis. “He told me earlier that he is going to keep telling me throughout the year, ‘I’m the reason you’re in the NBA.’ That’s great for me because even though he’s younger, he can still be a mentor and he has already been through the process.”
Multiple mock draft sites expressed concern with Ulis’ size. He is 5-9, 160. Suns coach Earl Watson remained firm in his belief that Ulis can be an impact player in the NBA. At 6-1, Watson also faced size issues that he overcame in the NBA.
“When Tyler came to his workout, size wasn’t even a factor,” Watson said. “He dominated the workout, made plays and scored. Throughout the season when he played, I got a text on my phone from Devin to watch. The old point guard of posting up with Gary Payton and Mark Jackson doesn’t exist. Space is everything. You might talk about, ‘Well, who can he guard?’ Well, who’s going to guard him? It goes both ways. Size doesn’t matter with us. The most important to us is that he has a big heart.”
For Ulis, size is not a factor.
“Teams really didn’t say much to me about my size because there isn’t anything I can do about it. It’s just about getting stronger, gaining weight, and becoming durable for the game. I’ve always been small so there’s nothing new to me. I’m used to it. I’ll pick my spots and play as good as I can.”
McDonough has faith in the Kentucky system and feels the players, all acquired within the past three years, are ready to make the Suns contenders again.
“Nobody is doing it better in college basketball right now in terms of recruitment, development, and coach (John) Calipari is tough, as any of the Wildcats here will tell you. They can handle that. We also know they won’t be overwhelmed by the moment. They play in an arena with 20,000 plus. They really have a good thing going for their program,” McDonough said.
