Texas big man Myles Turner was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Turner is considered to have one of the highest ceilings in the class and some considered him a possible top-five selection before an uneven year in college.
NBA Draft results 2015: Myles Turner picked by Indiana
Turner is the latest one-and-done college star to go in the draft lottery this year.
Turner was one of the top recruits in his class out of high school before landing at Texas, where he had an up-and-down freshman year before leaving Austin. The Longhorns went 20-13 before losing to Butler in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a game in which Turner recorded just two points, turned the ball over four times and committed four fouls.
The talent has always been undeniable, though, and Turner eased evaluators’ concerns with strong showings during the combine and predraft interviews. He may not have taken the Big 12 by storm, but he was solid, averaging nearly 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks per game. All the tools are there. Beyond the top few picks in the draft, there’s nobody with as much two-way potential as Turner.
Now Turner joins an Indiana team looking for a change of pace after years with Roy Hibbert anchoring the post. Turner is a much different kind of big man, capable of protecting the rim and spotting up from three-point range, so the Pacers are surely excited about the different looks they'll be able to roll out in the future with Turner at center. He'll need time to develop, and Indiana still has its sight on the short-term with Paul George around, but Turner gives the team a shot at another star in the near future.
Indy Cornrows, SB Nation’s Pacers blog, says the team is gambling on potential with the Turner selection.
During his workouts, Candace Bucker reported him to be the most vocal on the court, also noting his ability as a rim protector. The Pacers made an upside pick with Turner, it'll be up to Turner to make the pick pay off for the Pacers front office.
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