Following De’Andre Hunter in the NBA is Ty Jerome, who will join the Phoenix Suns in a trade after being chosen with the 24th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft Thursday night by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jerome, Hunter and Justin Anderson are the only Virginia basketball players to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft in the last 19 years.
The No. 24 pick initially belonged to the 76ers and was sent to Boston after the Celtics chose former Washington small forward Matisse Thybulle with the 20th pick and traded his rights to Philadelphia. The Celtics then moved the pick that would become Jerome on to Phoenix.
In his three years at Virginia, Jerome improved with each season. He averaged 4.3 points per game his freshman year, 10.6 points per game his sophomore year and 13.6 points per game this past season. He also averaged a career-high 5.5 assists per game this season, along with a 3.31 assist-to-turnover ratio.
His success this year led to his selection on the Second Team All-ACC and the Final Four All-Tournament Team.
Jerome delivered in big moments for the Cavaliers this season and was especially prolific in the Final Four. Against Auburn in the national semifinal game, Jerome had a team-high 21 points, 6 assists and 9 rebounds, and had 16 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in the national championship game against Texas Tech.
Jerome’s court vision, high basketball IQ and lethal three-point range have him poised to make an impact right away for the Suns.