COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers had four draft picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, and split them between two guards and two front-court players. Two Buckeyes and a Toledo Rocket also heard their names called on draft night.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Rd. 1, Pick 14:
Ochai Agbaji, G, University of Kansas
Ochai Agbaji was born in Milwaukee and played high school basketball at Oak Park High School in Missouri. He played four seasons at the University of Kansas. During his senior season with the Jayhawks, Agbaji averaged 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6 assists per game while shooting 41% from beyond the 3-point line. He also was named Big 12 Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player
The first 14th overall pick in Cavaliers history, Ochai Agbaji.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 24, 2022
Welcome to Cleveland, @youngoch ✨ pic.twitter.com/i0dnj8zBiC
Rd. 2, Pick 39:
Khalifa Diop, C, Gran Canaria (Spain)
A Senegal international player, Khalifa Diop averaged 14.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while representing Senegal at the 2021 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. He also competed for Senegal in qualifying games for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Diop also was the winner of the 2021-22 EuroCup Rising Star Trophy, which honors the best under-22 player in the EuroCup, a second-tier competition under the EuroLeague.
Khalifa Diop: the Cavaliers' 39th overall pick ✨#CavsDraft | @betwayusa pic.twitter.com/mPGt3mEM72
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 24, 2022
Rd. 2, Pick 49 (via the Sacramento Kings):
Isaiah Mobley, F/C, USC
Isaiah Mobley, brother of Cavalier Evan Mobley, played high school basketball at Rancho Christian School in California. He played three seasons at USC where he was named first-team All-Pac-12 as a junior. Mobley started all 32 games in 2021, logging 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks on 34.1 minutes per game.
Another Mobley in The Land!
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 24, 2022
Welcome to Cleveland, @MobleyIsaiah ✨ pic.twitter.com/tAM4vEvar1
Rd. 2, Pick 56:
Luke Travers, G, Perth (Australia)
Luke Travers played the 2021-22 season with Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League in Australia. He averaged 7.8 points per game, 2.26 assists and 5.41 rebounds.
With the 56th overall pick, the Cavaliers select @luke_travers ✨#CavsDraft | @betwayusa pic.twitter.com/ujSERaPmzM
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 24, 2022
Ohio-based prospects
Rd. 1, Pick 20 - San Antonio Spurs
Malaki Branham, G, Ohio State University
An alumnus of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Malaki Branham played his freshman season, the only of his collegiate career, at Ohio State. Branham finished the year averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists over 29.6 minutes per game. During the Buckeyes' last 10 games of the season, he averaged 20.2 ppg on his way to earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
With the 20th pick of the 2022 #NBADraft, the San Antonio Spurs select … Malaki Branham
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 24, 2022
#PorVida | @SelfCreditApp pic.twitter.com/FKNj00DYY6
Rd. 2, Pick 41 - New Orleans Pelicans
EJ Liddell, F, Ohio State University
EJ Liddell finished his prep career at Belleville West High School in Illinois. Liddell played three seasons at Ohio State, averaging 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks over 33.2 minutes per game for the Buckeyes. He also shot 37% from the 3-point line while playing for the Scarlet and Gray. Liddell helped the Buckeyes reach the NCAA Tournament and earned multiple All-American third team honors.
With the 41st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Pelicans select forward EJ Liddell (@EasyE2432) from 𝗧𝗛𝗘 Ohio State! 🙌
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 24, 2022
#PelicansDraft pic.twitter.com/XfmqwFufEj
Rd. 2, Pick 44 - Atlanta Hawks (Proposed trade to Golden State Warriors)
Ryan Rollins, G, University of Toledo
Ryan Rollins is a Detroit native who completed his high school career at Dakota High School. Rollins played two years for the Rockets. After earning Mid-Conference Freshman of the Year, as a sophomore, he averaged 19.1 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals over 32.8 minutes per game. As a sophomore, he was named All-MAC first team.
Toledo's @_moneyballry is headed to Dub Nation! #LiftOff | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/m3g0AApcCt
— #MACtion (@MACSports) June 24, 2022
Rd. 2, Pick 47 - Memphis Grizzlies
Vince Williams Jr., F, VCU
Vince Williams Jr. played high school basketball at St. John Jesuit in Toledo before playing four years at Virginia Commonwealth University. In 30 games for the Rams during his senior season, Williams averaged 14.1 points per game, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
.@Vincentwiliams is off the board and heading to the @memgrizz
— VCU Basketball (@VCU_Hoops) June 24, 2022
LETS GOOOOOOOOOO 🐏◼️🔶#ThisIsRamNation #NBADraft2022 pic.twitter.com/Di9vlJbUzy