TCU Basketball Star Desmond Bane Drafted in First Round of 2020 NBA Draft

First-rounders Jeff Gladney (left), Desmond Bane (center) and Jalen Reagor

Former TCU basketball star Desmond Bane was selected by the Boston Celtics with the final pick (30th overall) of the first round of the 2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft on Wednesday, November 18. 

Even though he was drafted by the Celtics, he will join the Memphis Grizzlies, because of a trade that had been arranged between the two teams prior to the Celtics selecting Bane.

After an outstanding career as a Horned Frog, Bane became the second TCU basketball player in history to be a first-round selection, joining Kurt Thomas. Thomas was the 10th overall pick by the Miami Heat in 1995. 

Bane is the 18th player in TCU basketball history to be selected in the NBA Draft. He is the first since Lee Nailon was a second-rounder in 1999. 

Of TCU's 18 draft picks, only five players have been taken in the first two rounds (Thomas, Nailon, Bane, Reggie Smith and Dick O’Neal).

TCU becomes one of six colleges this year to produce first-round picks in the NFL Draft (Jalen Reagor, Jeff Gladney) and NBA Draft (Bane). The others are Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Auburn and USC.

In addition to Bane, two other Big 12 players were selected in the first round: Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton (12th overall) and Kansas’ Udoka Azubuike (27th overall).

The Big 12 has had 32 basketball players selected as first-round picks in the last 10 years.

Bane was part of more TCU victories (84) than anyone else. He also made more 3-pointers (249) than anyone else.

Last season, Bane averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He led the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 44.2 percent. He also led the league by scoring at least 20 points in 12 games.