The Knicks moved as much as take a ready-made faculty star and a Villanova “villain.”
Tyler Kolek, a 23-year-old guard, was chosen thirty fourth on Thursday by the Knicks, who traded three different second-round picks to seize the Marquette star.
Kolek is a veteran by draft prospects requirements. He performed 4 years in faculty, one at George Mason, three at Marquette. He led the NCAA in assists final season whereas averaging 15.3 factors in 31 video games and taking pictures 39 p.c from past the arc.
His expertise is a stark distinction to the Knicks’ first-round selection from Wednesday, 18-year-old wing Pacome Dadiet of France.
Related given the present dynamics of the Knicks roster, Kolek was mercilessly taunted by Villanova followers as he buried the Wildcats in January.
Kolek, who dropped a career-high 32 factors with 9 assists in that matchup, mentioned he embraced Nova hate.
“We come on the highway they usually’re yelling [that] I can’t learn,” Kolek advised reporters after the sport. “They’re yelling, ‘The place have been you on January 6?’
“All this [expletive]. I like that stuff. I stroll out, they’re booing me. It’s enjoyable. It’s enjoyable for me.
“I’m undefeated towards Villanova,” Kolek added. “I’ve by no means misplaced to them in three years.”
The Knicks now have 4 Villanova NCAA champions — Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo — of their rotation.
And there’s potential, if Kolek’s sport interprets to the NBA, to function a Brunson backup.
The Knicks, who can be restricted in how they’ll add gamers this summer season due to their salary-cap state of affairs, may’ve used one other ballhander within the playoffs. Miles McBride and Alec Burks have been thrust into that position when Brunson was subbed out regardless of having shooting-guard skillsets.
Kolek’s NBA upside is as a ground common with a ceiling comparability to TJ McConnell, the pesky Pacers level guard who served an vital position in eliminating the Knicks from the playoffs final season. Kolek has that aggressive hearth and, at 6-foot-3, is taller than McConnell with a greater shot. However he’s restricted athletically and never as robust an on-ball defender.
Fran Fraschilla, the previous St. John’s coach and NCAA analyst, raved about Kolek to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel throughout his junior season.
“It’s important to have high-IQ guys,” Fraschilla mentioned. “Tyler Kolek thinks the sport in addition to any level guard in faculty basketball. It’s not even shut. His passing capability is on par with anybody. To have a man like that, it will be like having [the Kansas City Chiefs’] Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. If you happen to put Patrick Mahomes on my Jets, they’re nonetheless taking part in. And with Marquette, they’ve the proper set off man.”
The Knicks have already got three of their very own second-round picks on the roster — McBride, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims — so there’s a precedent for actual alternative.
After selecting Kolek, the Knicks made a collection of choose swaps, and completed the night with the 56th and 58th picks, utilizing them to decide on Kevin McCullar Jr. out of Kansas and Ariel Hukporti from Germany, respectively.