George King is guarded future Phoenix Suns teammate Deandre Ayton
Photo by: Joel Broida
George King Drafted By Phoenix Suns
June 21, 2018 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER - University of Colorado's George King was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 59th overall pick Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., King was named to the 2017-18 All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team after averaging 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a senior. King is Colorado's fifth NBA draft pick in the last eight years, marking the coach Tad Boyle era.
"If you look at the core values of our program: trustworthiness, character and work ethic, he has all three," Boyle said. "Combine that with his athleticism and continued improvement, you've got a guy who moved himself into the top 60 players coming out this year. It shows that hard work and perseverance pays off. It's refreshing to see and I'm really happy for him."
Overall, he is Colorado's 35th NBA Draft pick and the third Buff picked Suns joining Jay Humphries (13th overall in 1984) and Brian Johnson (212th in 1981).
King finished his career second in team history in 3-point shooting at 40.1 percent (181-451). He also ranked fifth in 3-pointers made, sixth in 3-point attempts, seventh in games played (127), 13th in starts (90), 14th in rebounds (681), 18th in scoring (1,294) and 20th in minutes played (2,866) in the Colorado record books.
On the overall Pac-12 charts in 2017-18, King ranked third in defensive rebounds (6.1 drpg), fifth in overall rebounds, 12th in offensive rebounds (1.8 orpg), 14th in free-throw percentage (.782) and 3-point percentage, 15th in 3-point field goals (1.9 3mpg), 22nd in scoring.
King led the Buffaloes in rebounding 18 times and led the team in scoring in eight outings. Following the season, King earned the team's Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award for the second-straight season and earned a share of the inagural Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award (along with freshman Evan Battey), created to recognize the player, or players, that best exemplified the virtues of Perseverance, Attitude, Selflessness and Success.
He played in the annual NABC All-Star game prior to the Final Four where he was named MVP of the East team after scoring 21 points on 8 of 11 shooting with nine rebounds and three blocked shots. He then participated in the Portsmouth Invitational, a pre-NBA Draft showcase for college seniors. King was named to the Portsmouth All-Tournament team averaging 18 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games. For his efforts, he received an invitation to the 2018 NBA Draft Combine.
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., King was named to the 2017-18 All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team after averaging 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a senior. King is Colorado's fifth NBA draft pick in the last eight years, marking the coach Tad Boyle era.
"If you look at the core values of our program: trustworthiness, character and work ethic, he has all three," Boyle said. "Combine that with his athleticism and continued improvement, you've got a guy who moved himself into the top 60 players coming out this year. It shows that hard work and perseverance pays off. It's refreshing to see and I'm really happy for him."
Overall, he is Colorado's 35th NBA Draft pick and the third Buff picked Suns joining Jay Humphries (13th overall in 1984) and Brian Johnson (212th in 1981).
King finished his career second in team history in 3-point shooting at 40.1 percent (181-451). He also ranked fifth in 3-pointers made, sixth in 3-point attempts, seventh in games played (127), 13th in starts (90), 14th in rebounds (681), 18th in scoring (1,294) and 20th in minutes played (2,866) in the Colorado record books.
On the overall Pac-12 charts in 2017-18, King ranked third in defensive rebounds (6.1 drpg), fifth in overall rebounds, 12th in offensive rebounds (1.8 orpg), 14th in free-throw percentage (.782) and 3-point percentage, 15th in 3-point field goals (1.9 3mpg), 22nd in scoring.
King led the Buffaloes in rebounding 18 times and led the team in scoring in eight outings. Following the season, King earned the team's Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award for the second-straight season and earned a share of the inagural Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award (along with freshman Evan Battey), created to recognize the player, or players, that best exemplified the virtues of Perseverance, Attitude, Selflessness and Success.
He played in the annual NABC All-Star game prior to the Final Four where he was named MVP of the East team after scoring 21 points on 8 of 11 shooting with nine rebounds and three blocked shots. He then participated in the Portsmouth Invitational, a pre-NBA Draft showcase for college seniors. King was named to the Portsmouth All-Tournament team averaging 18 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games. For his efforts, he received an invitation to the 2018 NBA Draft Combine.