Western Kentucky Hilltoppers top 10 NBA draft picks
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BVM) — With his recent selection by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Western Kentucky University鈥檚 All-American center Charles Bassey became the 36th NBA draft pick in Hilltoppers鈥� program history. With a program stretching back all the way to 1914-15 and with over 100 seasons of collegiate basketball played, take a peek at the WKU Hilltoppers鈥� highest-selected NBA draft picks.
(Editor鈥檚 note: These do not include picks in the ABA or any other professional basketball leagues, strictly the NBA and teams/organizations that still exist and neither folded or otherwise. The picks also go by round and pick number, NOT by overall pick number)
No. 1 — Clem Haskins, Round 1, Pick 3 by the Chicago Bulls (1967)
Still the Hilltoppers鈥� record holder for most points in a single game (55), Haskins had a prolific career in Bowling Green that saw him finish with 1,680 career points and 809 career rebounds in 76 games. He is one of just two Hilltoppers ever to earn All-American in each year they played and his 22.1 points per game average is still second in program history. His No. 22 jersey is retired by the Hilltoppers.
Haskins would go on to play nine NBA seasons with the Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Washington Bullets (now Wizards) from 1967-76. After playing, Haskins would go on to a successful head coaching career which included stops at WKU and Minnesota and would even be an assistant coach for Team USA before retiring in 1999.
No. 2 — Tom Marshall, Round 1, Pick 7 by the Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) (1954)
The Hilltoppers鈥� career leader in rebounds (477), Marshall was also an excellent scorer as he left as the program鈥檚 leading scorer and is still in the top five in team history, holding the record for most field goals attempted in a career and second in field goals made, free throws made and free throws attempted. His 29 rebounds against Louisville in 1953 is still a record as is his 18 free throw attempts against Eastern Kentucky in 1954. His No. 41 jersey is retired by the Hilltoppers.
Marshall finished his career with 1,909 points and 1,225 rebounds in 100 career games and his average of 19.1 points sits at five on the all-time list. Though he had a strong rookie campaign, Marshall would be drafted in the military, missing the 1955-56 and would return to play three more seasons for the Royals.聽
No. 3 — Jack Turner, Round 1, Pick 8 by the New York Knicks (1954)
A four-year player for WKU, Turner largely lived in the shadow of his teammate Marshall, however without him, it is likely the Hilltoppers wouldn鈥檛 have had the success they did during the early 鈥�50s. In four seasons, Turner would accumulate 1,123 points in 106 career games, good for a 10.6 average.
Turner would only last one season in the NBA, playing small forward for the Knicks and averaging 4.3 points and 1.2 assists.
No. 4 — Clarence Glover, Round 1, Pick 10 by the Boston Celtics (1971)
A player so seemingly overshadowed by his teammate Jim McDaniels (who will be discussed later), it is hard to date to find statistics on Glover and his performance. A member of the only WKU squad to make the Final Four in 1971, Glover finished his Hilltoppers career with 6.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 80 games including having 8.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists during the Final Four season according to .
Glover would only last one season in the NBA, averaging 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 25 games with the Celtics. He was inducted into the WKU Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
No. 5 — Don Ray, Round 1, Pick 11 by the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors) (1948)
With statistics being scarce the further back one goes, finding clear information on Ray is difficult, though WKU does have him in the 1,000 career point club with 1,006 in 79 career games, good for a 12.7 average. He led the Hilltoppers in scoring during the 1942-43 season with an average of 11.7 points. He was also a second team Helms Foundation All-American during the 1947-48 season.聽
His NBA career was brief as his draft rights were quickly transferred to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks), who he represented in 61 games during the 1949-50 season with an average of 6.0 points and one assist before ending his professional career.
No. 6 — Tellis Frank, Round 1, Pick 14 by the Golden State Warriors (1987)
One of the leaders for the Hilltoppers鈥� 1986-87 NCAA Tournament team, Frank would end his WKU career on a high note, earning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors after putting up 684 points, 6th in a single season in program history, for the highest scoring team in program history. That season, Frank would average career highs with 18 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists while leading the team to the tournament鈥檚 second round. He would finish his Hilltoppers career with 1,323 points, 664 rebounds and 187 assists.
Frank would have an average NBA career, playing for five years with the Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. He would play in 264 career games with 81 starts averaging 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and one assist. However, he is best known for the poor play of his team鈥檚 as he has one of the Today, Tellis鈥� son, , is a sophomore transfer player for Vanderbilt basketball after one season at TCU where he played sparingly in 14 games after coming out of Sierra Canyon High School.
No. 7 — Courtney Lee, Round 1, Pick 22 by the Orlando Magic (2008)
Perhaps the most recognizable name in Hilltoppers鈥� history outside of Kentucky, Lee has gone on to great NBA success. During his time at WKU, Lee tied Jim McDaniels for the program record in career points with 2,238. Lee is also near the top on other Hilltoppers records including being first in minutes played (3,957), No. 2 in games started (127), No. 2 in 3-point field goals attempted (611), No. 3 in field goals (802), No. 3 in field goals attempted (1,729) and No. 3 in 3-point field goals (245). Lee would finish his Hilltoppers鈥� career with 2,238 points, 663 rebounds and 281 assists for averages of 17.6, 5.2 and 2.2, respectively. Lee would be named an AP All-American honorable mention, a Basketball Times third-team All-American and earn Sun Belt Player of the Year honors in his senior season of 2007-08. His No. 32 jersey is retired by WKU.
Lee has enjoyed a 12 year NBA career but, although he hasn鈥檛 officially retired, hasn鈥檛 played since he was with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2019-20 season. Lee played for eight NBA teams during his career: the Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks and the Mavericks. For his NBA career so far, Lee has averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 811 career games with 518 starts.
No. 8 — Jim McDaniels, Round 2, Pick 6 by the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) (1971)
The most prominent name when it comes to WKU records, McDaniels is a Hilltoppers legend. Along with the most career points in program history with 2,238, McDaniels also holds WKU records for career scoring average (27.6), season scoring average (29.3), field goals in a career (935) and double-doubles in a season (28) and career double-doubles (74). McDaniels was also the fastest to reach the 1,000 point plateau, doing so in just 39 games and is one of just two players in WKU history (joining Haskins) to earn All-American honors in each year they played. He is also the lone Hilltopper to be a first-team All-American by three or more organizations in the same season when six picked him after the 1971 Final Four season. His No. 44 jersey is retired by WKU.
Though drafted by the SuperSonics, McDaniels would play part of his first season with the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association, where he would average 26.8 points a game. However, a contract dispute would bring McDaniels to the SuperSonics where his average dropped precipitously to 9.4 points. That would mark McDaniels鈥� best season as he would go on to play parts of four more seasons, ending his NBA career with averages of 5.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 184 career games for three teams (the SuperSonics, Knicks and then-Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers).
No. 9 — Darnell Mee, Round 2, Pick 7 by the Golden State Warriors (1993)
Mee is perhaps best known for his defensive skills with the Hilltoppers. Still the career steals leader with 259, Mee was also able to defend the basket as his 110 blocks landed him at No. 8 on the all-time list. Mee also holds the individual game record for steals, getting nine two times, once against Jacksonville on Feb. 11, 1993 and once again against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 25 of that same season. Mee finished his Hilltoppers career with 1,253 points, 472 rebounds and 273 assists in 91 games for averages of 13.8, 5.2 and 3.0, respectively.
Mee鈥檚 NBA career wouldn鈥檛 last long as he would be traded from the Warriors to the Denver Nuggets where he would play 40 games in two seasons, averaging 1.9 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists. While his NBA career didn鈥檛 go as planned, Mee had a legendary National Basketball League career, playing for 12 seasons, winning two championships and being named the league鈥檚 best defensive player five times.
No. 10 — Jim Rose, Round 2, Pick 11 by the Boston Celtics (1971)
Another member of the 1971 Final Four team to get drafted, Rose was a strong player for the Hilltoppers, though overshadowed by McDaniels and his performances. In three seasons with WKU, Rose would score 1,133 points, grab 427 rebounds and pass 228 assists in 81 career games for averages of 14.0, 5.3 and 2.8, respectively.
Though drafted, Rose would never appear in an NBA game and wouldn鈥檛 play professionally. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the WKU Hall of Fame in 2017.
