The Knicks moved up to take a ready-made college star and a Villanova “villain”.
23-year-old guard Tyler Kolek was selected 34th overall on Thursday by the Knicks, who traded three other second-round picks to acquire the Marquette star.
Kolek is a veteran by draft prospect standards. He played four years in college, one at George Mason, three at Marquette. He led the NCAA in assists last season, averaging 15.3 points and shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc in 31 games.
His experience is a sharp contrast to that of the Knicks’ first-round pick on Wednesday, 18-year-old French wing Pacom Dadiet.
Given the current dynamics of the Knicks roster, Kolek was mercilessly taunted by Villanova fans as he buried the Wildcats in January.
Kolek, who dropped a career-high 32 points with nine assists in that matchup, said he has embraced the Nova hate.
“We come down the street and they’re yelling I can’t read,” Kolek told reporters after the game. “They’re yelling, ‘Where were you on January 6?’
“All this (expletive). I love that stuff. I went out, they were scolding me. It’s fun. This is fun for me.
“I’m undefeated against Villanova,” Kolek said. “I’ve never lost to him in three years.”
The Knicks now have four Villanova NCAA champions – Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo – in their rotation.
And if Kolek’s game translates to the NBA, Brunson will likely serve as the backup.
The Knicks, who will be limited in adding players this summer due to their salary-cap situation, could use another ballhander in the playoffs. When Brunson was sidelined despite having shooting-guard skills, Miles McBride and Alec Burks were thrust into that role.
Kolek has NBA upside as a floor general who can be compared to TJ McConnell, the pesky Pacers point guard who played a key role in knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs last season. Kolek has competitive ability and is taller than McConnell at 6 feet 3 inches tall with a better shot. But he is limited athletically and not as strong an on-ball defender.
Former St. John’s coach and NCAA analyst Fran Fraschilla praised Kolek in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during his junior season.
“You have to have high-IQ people,” Fraschilla said. “Tyler Kolek plays as well as any point guard in college basketball. It’s not even close. His passing ability is as good as anyone’s. Having a guy like that would be like having (Kansas City Chiefs) Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. If you put Patrick Mahomes on my Jets, he’s still playing. And with Marquette, they have the perfect trigger man.
The Knicks already have three of their second-round picks on the roster — McBride, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims — so there’s a precedent for a real opportunity.
After selecting Kolek, the Knicks made a series of pick swaps, and finished the evening with the 56th and 58th picks, using them to select Kevin McCullers Jr. from Kansas and Ariel Huckporty from Germany, respectively.
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A look at the Knicks’ second-round picks in Thursday’s draft:
Tyler Kolek, PG: 2nd round, 34th overall
A college star at Marquette and a floor general at 6-foot-3-inch, 195 pounds, he is considered one of the best passers in the country.
The experience gives him a high floor as a prospect who can potentially contribute immediately.
Kevin McCullers Jr., F: Second round, 56th overall
He blossomed as a senior at Kansas before a knee injury derailed his season. A strong, 6-7 defender, but a career 31 percent 3-point shooter on a good volume in the NCAA is worrisome.
Ariel Huckporty, C: Second round, 58th overall
The 22-year-old Australian prospect has high potential and appreciates defence.
At 6-11 and 246 pounds, he could fit into the Tom Thibodeau center role. Limited offensively and scheduled to undergo Achilles surgery in late 2022.
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