Record five South Floridians get picked in 2023 NBA draft, including four in top 11
There had never been an NBA draft with more than three South Floridians picked until Thursday, and then four went in the first 11 picks of the 2023 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and one more in Round 2.
Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson, who won a state championship together at Pine Crest, went Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Taylor Hendricks, who won back-to-back state titles at Calvary Christian Academy, went a few picks later at No. 9. Jett Howard, who won a state championship at NSU University before transferring to Bradenton IMG Academy, went No. 11. Toumani Camara, who played for four years at Chaminade-Madonna, rounded out the draft in the second round.
It was a historic night for South Florida and Broward County in particular.
Round 1, Pick 4: G Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite (Pine Crest) → Rockets
Thompson was the first South Floridian picked in 2023 and the first player ever drafted out of Overtime Elite. He led the Panthers to the Class 3A championship in 2021 as a junior, leading a stunning comeback by scoring eight straight points in the final minute of overtime after his brother fouled out. He then skipped his senior year of high school to turn professional in Overtime’s upstart league for players aged 16-20. Along with his twin brother, Thompson was one of the Broward County Co-Boys’ Basketball Players of the Year for Classes 4A-2A in 2021 and a top-35 recruit, according to 247Sports, when he decided to forego college for Overtime Elite. He won an Overtime championship this year playing with his brother for City Reapers and was a first-team all-Overtime Elite selection.
Round 1, Pick 5: SG Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite (Pine Crest) → Pistons
Thompson and his twin brother made some history Thursday, going back to back in the top five of the draft. Along with his twin brother, he helped Pine Crest win the 3A championship in 2021 when they were both juniors and was one of Broward’s Co-Boys’ Basketball Players of the Year for 4A-2A. He was also a top-35 recruit when he decied to forego college for Overtime Elite (OTE) and he won a pair of championships in Atlanta. He was also the most valuable player of OTE this year.
Round 1, Pick 9: PF Taylor Hendricks, UCF (Calvary Christian Academy/NSU University) → Jazz
Hendricks first won a state championship as a freshman with the Sharks in 2019 — playing with Howard — and then transferred to Calvary Christian, where he blossomed into one of the best players in the country. The Eagles won back-to-back state titles in 2020 and 2021, and Hendricks was the Broward Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year for 4A-2A as a senior in 2021. Although he wound up as the No. 67 recruit Class of 2022, Hendricks didn’t think he’d be a one-and-done with the UCF Knights until he got to Orlando and NBA teams started poking around. He was a first-team all-freshman selection in the American Athletic Conference.
Round 1, Pick 11: SG Jett Howard, Michigan (Bradenton IMG Academy/NSU University) → Magic
Howard, the son of former All-Star power forward Juwan Howard, was also part of NSU University’s title-winning team when he was a freshman in 2019 and eventually transferred to IMG Academy to finish out high school. He then went on to play for his father, who’s the coach of the Michigan Wolverines, and became a one-and-done and lottery pick.
Round 2, Pick 52: F Toumani Camara, Dayton (Chaminade-Madonna) → Suns
Camara is originally from Belgium, but moved to Florida for high school and played four years for the Lions. He was a first-team All-Broward County selection as a senior in 2019, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2019 and originally signed with Georgia. After two years, he transferred and landed with the Dayton Flyers, and was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior, solidifying his place as a draft prospect.
