Guy, Hunter and Jerome enjoyed special nights at the 2019 NBA Draft. ~ Photo courtesy of Matt Riley/UVA Athletics Media Relations

De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy – the “Big 3” from Virginia men’s basketball’s 2018-19 championship team – decided to forego remaining college eligibility to enter the 2019 NBA Draft. The decisions paid off on Thursday night (June 20), when all three were selected in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Consensus third-team All-American guard/forward De’Andre Hunter was the first one selected, picked 4th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Hunter won’t be playing alongside LeBron James, however. The New Orleans Pelicans acquired this pick as part of the Anthony Davis trade agreed to prior to the Draft. The Pelicans subsequently traded this pick to the Atlanta Hawks, who traded up to snatch the 6’8”, 227-pound Hunter.

Hunter, who donned a locket that had a picture of his late father, hugged family, friends, and his former head coach, Tony Bennett, before sharing the stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The Philadelphia (PA) native becomes Virginia’s highest draft pick since Ralph Sampson was selected no. 1 overall in the 1983 NBA Draft.

Twenty spots later, All-ACC second-team point guard Ty Jerome was selected with the 24th overall pick in the first round. While the Philadelphia 76ers made the selection, the pick was reportedly traded to Boston, who reportedly then traded it to Phoenix. In short, the former Cavalier star will be a Sun.

For the first time in school history, Virginia basketball had two first round picks in the same draft.

Guy, the 2019 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and two-time All-ACC first-team selection, was drafted 55th overall (2nd Round) by the New York Knicks. The Knicks subsequently traded the rights to Guy as well as cash considerations to the Sacramento Kings for the rights to former Michigan forward Ignas Brazekis.

Since Tony Bennett became head coach in 2009, the Virginia men’s basketball program has had eight NBA Draft selections. Hunter and Jerome join Justin Anderson (2015, #21) as first round picks during this time. Second round selections in addition to Guy include Mike Scott (2012), Joe Harris (2014), Malcolm Brogdon (2016), and Devon Hall (2018).