Best-Dressed NBA Draft Picks
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Duke's Cam Reddish shows off his jacket after being the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.To survive — and thrive — in the NBA, young players need to have game. It also helps to have style.
As the legendary Deion Sanders once said, "When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you play good. And when you play good, they pay good."
The journey to a successful professional basketball career began for some players at the 2019 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Here's what they looked like as their hoop dreams became reality.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, congratulates Zion Williamson, the first pick in the draft.Drafted: No. 1
Position: Power forward
School: Duke
Height: 6-7
Weight: 285 pounds
Birthday: July 6, 2000
Bottom line: He's not even 19 yet, but Zion Williamson is ready to be the face of an NBA franchise.
After the Anthony Davis trade, the New Orleans Pelicans will have plenty of talented players around Williamson to ease the pressure of learning the pro game. They will grow together and be fun to watch.
He could not have scripted a better situation.
Ja Morantz, Memphis Grizzlies
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Ja Morant averaged 24.5 points per game as a sophomore at Murray State.Drafted: No. 2
Position: Point guard
School: Murray State
Height: 6-3
Weight: 175
Birthday: Aug. 10, 1999
Bottom line: Ja Morantz is a playmaker.
He may have flown a little under the radar in college at Murray State, but those days are over.
Expect to see him making lots of highlights early and often at the next level.
RJ Barrett, New York Knicks
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RJ Barrett is excited to play in New York with the Knicks.Drafted: No. 3
Position: Small forward
School: Duke
Height: 6-7
Weight: 202
Birthday: Jun 6, 2000
Bottom line: RJ Barrett has been making bold statements his whole life.
He did it again on draft night with his choice of a pink suit.
Expect the same fearless attitude in the mecca of basketball.
De'Andre Hunter, Los Angeles Lakers (Headed to Atlanta Hawks)
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De'Andre Hunter averaged 15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his sophomore year at Virginia.Drafted: No. 4
Position: Small forward
School: Virginia
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225
Birthday: Dec. 2, 1997
Bottom line: D'Andre Hunter has the requisite basketball skills you'd expect from a top-five pick. But he also a few qualities that are tough to quantify like toughness, resilience and hunger.
After missing the 2018 NCAA tournament with a wrist injury, his Virginia Cavaliers team became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed. Instead of leaving school, he returned and led the Cavaliers to the 2019 national title.
That's the heart of a champion
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Darius Garland averaged 16.2 points per game at Vanderbilt.Drafted: No. 5
Position: Point guard
School: Vanderbilt
Height: 6-2
Weight: 174
Birthday: Jan. 26, 2000
Bottom line: Darius Garland is another playmaker and has a smooth shot.
His father, Winston Garland, played 511 games in the NBA and averaged 9.4 points over seven seasons.
The son could have an even better career,
Jarrett Culver, Phoenix Suns (To Minnesota Timberwolves)
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Jarrett Culver was Texas Tech's leading scorer in the 2018-19 season, averaging 18.5 points per game.Drafted: No. 6
Position: Shooting guard
School: Texas Tech
Height: 6-5
Weight: 194
Birthday: Feb. 20, 1999
Bottom line: His stock rose after leading Texas Tech to the NCAA title game against Virginia in 2019.
A hard-nosed player with serious athletic gifts, the sky's the limit for Jarrett Culver.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls
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Coby White averaged 16.1 points and 4.1 assists at North Carolina.Drafted: No. 7
Position: Point guard
School: North Carolina
Height: 6-3
Weight: 191
Birthday: Feb. 16, 2000
Bottom line: Cody White comes from the school of "if you got it, flaunt it."
He surprised some people by leaving North Carolina after only one year.
Now, the speedy point guard and dynamic scorer is prepared to introduce himself to the NBA.
Jaxson Hayes, Atlanta Hawks (To New Orleans Pelicans)
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Jaxson Hayes averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game at Texas as a freshman.Drafted: No. 8
Position: Center
School: Texas
Height: 6-10
Weight: 218
Birthday: May 23, 2000
Bottom line: Jaxson Hayes is 6-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan.
That's not all you need to know about the 6-11 center, but it's an important part of the story.
The other part? He's 19, athletic and still growing.
Rui Hachimura, Washington Wizards
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Rui Hachimura is the first Japanese-born player drafted by an NBA team in the first round.Drafted: No. 9
Position: Power forward
School: Gonzaga
Height: 6-8
Weight: 236
Birthday: Feb. 8, 1998
Bottom line: Rui Hachimura has come a long way from Japan, where he was born.
After going to school in Washington state, he will play in the nation's capital.
Talk about a journey.
Cam Reddish, Atlanta Hawks
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Cam Reddish averaged 13.5 points per game at Duke.Drafted: No. 10
Position: Small forward
School: Duke
Height: 6-6
Weight: 207
Birthday: Sept. 1, 1999
Bottom line: Cam Reddish has elite physical tools.
He could be an All-Star one day.
It's up to him.
PJ Washington, Charlotte Hornets
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PJ Washington averaged 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game at Kentucky as a sophomore.Drafted: No. 12
Position: Power forward
School: Kentucky
Height: 6-6
Weight: 230
Birthday: Aug. 23, 1998
Bottom line: PJ Washington made strides as a passer and scorer in his sophomore season at Kentucky.
If he can keep developing his game and bring hustle to the court every day, he will find his way into the rotation.
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
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Tyler Herro played one season at Kentucky.Drafted: No. 13
Position: Shooting guard
School: Kentucky
Height: 6-4
Weight: 192
Birthday: Jan. 20, 2000
Bottom line: The modern-day NBA loves shooters, and Tyler Herro can shoot. But that's not his only skill.
He has a solid all-around game with a high basketball IQ.
That could take him far.
Romeo Langford, Boston Celtics
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Romeo Langford averaged 16.5 points per game as a freshman at Indiana.Drafted: No. 14
Position: Shooting guard
School: Indiana
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215
Birthday: Oct. 25, 1999
Bottom line: Romeo Langford is another basketball star from Indiana.
He played a season in Bloomington and repped his Hoosier colors at the Barclays Center on draft night.
Now, he's got a chance to develop in Celtics green under Brad Stevens. Not too shabby.
Sekou Doumbouya, Detroit Pistons
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Sekou Doumbouya grew up in France and played on the French U-18 national team.Drafted: No. 15
Position: Power forward
School/club: Limoges (France)
Height: 6-9
Weight: 230
Bottom line: The 18-year-old French native is big, strong, agile and explosive,
Sekou Doumbouya played in France's top league and still is learning the finer points of the game.
That's good news for the Pistons, and could be bad news for opponents.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Brooklyn Nets (To New Orleans Pelicans)
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged 16.2 points per game at Virginia Tech.Drafted: No. 17
Position: Shooting guard
School: Virginia Tech
Height: 6-4
Weight: 204
Birthday: Sept. 2, 1998
Bottom line: Nickeil Alexander-Walker is versatile and can play multiple positions.
That is an advantage for him and could serve him well with the young Pelicans.
Goga Bitadze, Indiana Pacers
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Goga Bitadze has been playing professional basketball on the international level since he was 16.Drafted: No. 18
Position: Center
School/club: KK Mega Leks (Serbia)
Height: 6-11
Weight: 250
Birthday: July 20, 1999
Bottom line: Goga Bitadze is from the country of Georgia and started playing basketball at the age of 6.
After growing up watching Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol and fellow Georgian Zaza Pachulia (his idol), the younger Bitadze started playing professional basketball in 2015 at the age of 16.
He's a hard worker , mobile and is mature for his age at 19. That could translate into lots of early playing time.
Luka Samanic, San Antonio Spurs
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Luka Samanic is from Croatia.Drafted: No. 19
Position: Power forward
School/club: KK Olimpija (Slovenia)
Height: 6-10
Weight: 227
Birthday: Jan. 9, 2000
Bottom line: Luka Samanic is an athletic European forward from Croatia who has a lot of international experience.
He can play above the rim but still needs to work on his post moves and get used to playing NBA competition.
Matisse Thybulle, Boston Celtics (To Philadelphia 76ers)
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Matisse Thybulle averaged 9.1 points per game as a senior at the University of Washington.Drafted: No. 20
Position: Small forward
School: Washington
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200
Birthday: March 4, 1997
Bottom line: At 22, Matisse Thybulle is that rare college player who stays in school for his senior year.
The experience served him well at the University of Washington as a smart, tenacious player.
Those same qualities will serve him well in the NBA as a potential "3-and-D" specialist.
Brandon Clarke, Oklahoma Thunder (To Memphis Grizzlies)
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Brandon Clarke averaged 16.9 points as a junior at Gonzaga.Drafted: No. 21
Position: Power forward
School: Gonzaga
Height: 6-7
Weight: 207
Birthday: Sept. 9, 1996
Bottom line: Brandon Clarke is unselfish, plays excellent defense, rebounds well and is one of the oldest players in the draft at 22.
Add it all up, and he has a good shot to make an impact from Day 1.
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers
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Nassir Little averaged 9.8 points per game as a freshman at North Carolina.Drafted: No. 25
Position: Shooting forward
School: North Carolina
Height: 6-4
Weight: 224
Birthday: Feb. 11, 2000
Bottom line: Nassir Little has solid basketball skills with big-time speed and explosiveness.
Although he came off the bench at North Carolina and didn't have a monster freshman year, he was the MVP of the 2018 McDonald's All-American Game and co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic.
He possesses an X-factor quality and could be a great pro.
Mfiondu Kabengele, Brooklyn Nets (To Los Angeles Clippers)
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Mfiondu Kabengele was a guard in high school until his senior year after he grew a few inches.Drafted: No. 27
Position: Power forward
School: Florida State
Height: 6-8
Weight: 256
Birthday: Aug. 14, 1997
Bottom line: Shot-blocking runs in Mfiondu Kabengele's family. His uncle is Dikembe Mutombo.
At 6-foot-10 in shoes, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Kabengele could be serious disruptor on the defense.
He also is a capable scorer and averaged 13.2 points per game as a sophomore at Florida State.
Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
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Jordan Poole averaged 12.8 points per game as a sophomore at Michigan.Drafted: No. 28
Position: Shooting guard
School: Michigan
Height: 6-4
Weight: 191
Birthday: June 19, 1999
Bottom line: Look up Jordan Poole on the internet, and you'll find some incredible highlights.
But while he is smart, clutch and plays under control, he still has room to develop on defense.
The good far outweighs the bad, however, and he has the tools to find a role in the league.
Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
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Keldon Johnson averaged 13.5 points as a freshman at Kentucky but did some of his best work on defense.Drafted: No. 29
Position: Shooting guard
School: Kentucky
Height: 6-4
Weight: 216
Birthday: Nov. 11, 1999
Bottom line: Who says aggressive wings don't grow on trees?
John Calipari knows where to find them because they seem to come out of Kentucky with regularity.
Add Keldon Johnson to the list.
Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks (To Cleveland Cavaliers)
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Kevin Porter Jr. averaged 9.5 points as a freshman at USC.Drafted: No. 30
Position: Shooting guard
School: USC
Height: 6-4
Weight: 212
Birthday: May 4, 2000
Bottom line: Kevin Porter has been through a lot in his 19 years after his father was murdered when he was 4.
Since then, he's been working on his game — first at Rainier Beach in Seattle (the high school that produced Jamal Crawford and other NBA players), then at USC.
And the work has paid off. He has star potential on the court with a smooth lefty stroke. If he can adapt to the demands of life in the NBA, watch out for highlight reels.
Bol Bol, Miami Heat (To Denver Nuggets)
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Will Bol Bol have the last laugh?Drafted: No. 44
Position: Center
School: Oregon
Height: 7-0
Weight: 208
Birthday: Nov. 16, 1999
Bottom line: Bol Bol expected to be a lottery pick after averaging 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in his freshman year at Oregon. But his medical reports scared teams away, and he had to wait hours at Barclays Center for his name to be called.
Now, the son of former 7-foot-7 NBA center Manute Bol (who died in 2010) wants to "prove everyone wrong" that passed on him.
Although most second-round picks have a difficult road to the league, Bol Bol could be the exception and has a lot of people rooting for him.