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Brandon Boston selected by Pels with No. 51 pick, reportedly dealt to Clippers

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With the No. 51 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Brandon "B.J." Boston, a freshman guard out of Kentucky.

The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly acquired the selection earlier in the week and are dealing Boston's rights to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Boston came to Kentucky as a McDonald's All-American, Mr. California Basketball, and the seventh-ranked high school recruit in the 2020 class but largely failed to build off those haughty expectations. At 9-16, the Wildcats posted easily their worst season under coach John Calipari - and their first losing campaign since the late 1980s - with Boston playing a central role.

He finished the year tied for the team lead with 11.5 points per game albeit on an inefficient 38.4% on twos and 30% on threes. The lanky two-guard added 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in over 30 minutes per contest. Solid shooting form and a 78.5% clip at the free-throw line hint at the possibility that Boston can develop into a capable outside scoring threat.

Bio

Position: SG
School: Kentucky
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 188 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-11
Max vertical: N/A

Strengths

  • Great length for his position.
  • Can create off the bounce.

Weaknesses

  • Overconfident at times to a fault - but occasionally disappears altogether (went scoreless in final NCAA game).
  • Doesn't possess quick-burst speed.
  • Needs to add to his frame to finish at the rim/not get bodied on defense.

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