Story Online: https://buffs.me/3xMvuDD
Simpson Goes To Hornets, Giving Buffs Highest-Ranked Draft Class In Program History
Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor, CUBuffs.com
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Colorado’s KJ Simpson became the third Buffalo taken in the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday when the Charlotte Hornets made him the 12th pick in the second round (42nd overall).
Simpson joins Wednesday first rounders Cody Williams (10th, Utah Jazz) and Tristan da Silva (18th, Orlando Magic) to make up the highest-ranked draft class in CU program history. The Buffs have had three players taken in one draft only two other times (1981 and 1955), but neither of those classes had all three players taken in the top 60 selections.
This is also the first time ever that the Buffs have had two first rounders in the same draft and Simpson becomes the 10th player selected in the Tad Boyle era.
Simpson played three seasons in Boulder. He stepped into the starting lineup as a sophomore and had an immediate impact, averaging 15.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He then increased those numbers to 19.7 and 4.9 last season, helping lead the Buffs to the Pac-12 tournament title game and two victories in the NCAA Tournament.
An emotional Simpson told ESPN immediately after his selection, “It feels good. Nobody expected me to be here. I know it’s not over. I can’t wait to keep going and prove people wrong. My story’s not written.”
Slightly undersized by NBA standards at 6-foot-1, Simpson nevertheless impressed scouts in his pre-draft workouts. He exhibited explosive leaping ability all year with the Buffs with some huge dunks and put up extremely efficient shooting numbers as a junior, hitting more than 47 percent of his field goal tries, including 43.4 percent from long range, as well as connecting on more than 87 percent of his free throw tries. Those numbers put him in the upper echelon of all shooters in the draft.
Colorado has now had at least one player taken in eight of the last 14 NBA Drafts — including five first rounders — in Boyle’s tenure. The three picks were also tied with Kentucky for the second-most from any school. Connecticut led all schools with four.
Boyle said Simpson’s performance last season elevated him to a legitimate draft prospect.
“Before the season, I thought he might be a guy that would test the draft waters but would probably come back for a fourth year like Tristan,” Boyle said. “But he had a heck of a season and a great combine and earned his position in the draft. That’s the kind of young man he is, a guy who takes on big challenges.”
Thus, this year’s draft class featured CU’s first one-and-done player (Williams), a four-year player who earned his degree in finance at Colorado (da Silva) and a three-year player whose steady and solid development made him an NBA prospect earlier than many expected.
“What you learn is that as a coach, players develop at different speeds and you do your best to help them develop in that process,” Boyle said. “All of the guys in this class are special, but KJ is a little extra special because of his journey.”
Boyle attended both days of the draft but will soon be back in Boulder preparing for next season.
“It’s been a great 48 hours for Colorado basketball,” Boyle said. “But more importantly, it’s been a great 48 hours for three terrific families.”
TROY ANDRE | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS/MANAGING EDITOR CUBuffs.com
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