The NBA Draft took place Thursday night from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn and the Milwaukee Bucks stood pat with the 24th choice in the first round to take 6-6 guard MarJon Beauchamp from the G League Ignite. A Washington state native, Beauchamp played on four different high school teams growing up before spending one year at Yakima Valley College where he averaged 30 points a game. He turned pro to join the Ignite and became a top flight defender. Beauchamp has a wingspan measuring seven feet and his defensively versatility drew the attention of General Manager Jon Horst who reportedly was willing to trade up to get him. Horst didn’t have to and made the first round pick for the first time since taking Donte DiVincenzo in the opening round in 2017.
The Bucks wound up with the 58th and final pick of the draft by making a deal with the Indiana Pacers, reportedly sending cash to Indiana for the right to select Hugo Besson who played professionally last year in France.
Two state products also got the call. LaCrosse native Johnny Davis from the University of Wisconsin, the Big Ten Player of the Year, was taken 10th overall by the Washington Wizards. Patrick Baldwin Jr., who played just one season at Milwaukee, was taken 28th in the first round by the newly crowned NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.
Justin Lewis of Marquette went undrafted but he’s signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls.
