Kelsey Plum has some NBA draft advice for Markelle Fultz
When you're the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, you learn a thing or two along the way. Kelsey Plum, the former University of Washington standout, learned those things in April when the San Antonio Stars selected her first overall.
"I remember sitting there with my family and hearing my name called and just being shocked," Plum recalled. "You can always dream about something, but until it becomes reality, you never truly understand how it feels."
Fellow Huskies basketball star Markelle Fultz, who was there to celebrate the moment with Plum, is now primed to experience that same feeling of being a No. 1 pick Thursday in the 2017 NBA draft (ESPN/WatchESPN, 7 p.m. ET).
Fultz is expected to be drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, according to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. That would make him and Plum the first duo from the same school selected as the No. 1 picks in the NBA and WNBA drafts in the same academic year.
"I'm really proud to be able to say that I represent the University of Washington," said Plum, a San Diego native. "I really fell in love with the city of Seattle and everything it offers. I'm proud to represent it in any way I can, and I know Markelle feels the same way."
The connection between Plum, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, and Fultz extends beyond the top of the draft board. The two formed a friendship during Plum's senior season at Washington, which was Fultz's first and only year on campus. She's in a unique position to advise him as she reflects on her own transition from college to the pros.
"Regardless of what happens, he's going to be great," Plum said. "I totally believe that and have all the faith in the world in him. [The draft] is out of your control, and you just have to make the most of whatever opportunity you're given. He has certainly done that ... this is an amazing moment for him."
Some of her advice to Fultz and the 2017 NBA draft class is to enjoy time with family as well as "being an amateur still." Draft day is "life changing," according to Plum, and while the uncertainty of the future can make it a nerve-racking day, she says to enjoy that feeling of the unknown.
"You don't really know what's going on, and at times that may feel stressful, but as soon as you're with [a team], it's different," Plum said. "It's a new phase of your life, so don't take for granted the phase that you're in now. Appreciate every bit of the moment because it only happens once."
Plum would tell Fultz exactly what she'd tell the rest of the draft class: Soak it all in; enjoy it. And if the two Huskies end up making history as the first tandem of top picks in the WNBA and NBA drafts to come from the same school in the same year, that would just be icing on the cake.
Source: http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/19680574/kelsey-plum-some-nba-draft-advice-fellow-washington-huskies-standout-markelle-fultz
"I remember sitting there with my family and hearing my name called and just being shocked," Plum recalled. "You can always dream about something, but until it becomes reality, you never truly understand how it feels."
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| Markelle Fultz and Kelsey Plum. |
Fultz is expected to be drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, according to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. That would make him and Plum the first duo from the same school selected as the No. 1 picks in the NBA and WNBA drafts in the same academic year.
"I'm really proud to be able to say that I represent the University of Washington," said Plum, a San Diego native. "I really fell in love with the city of Seattle and everything it offers. I'm proud to represent it in any way I can, and I know Markelle feels the same way."
The connection between Plum, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, and Fultz extends beyond the top of the draft board. The two formed a friendship during Plum's senior season at Washington, which was Fultz's first and only year on campus. She's in a unique position to advise him as she reflects on her own transition from college to the pros.
"Regardless of what happens, he's going to be great," Plum said. "I totally believe that and have all the faith in the world in him. [The draft] is out of your control, and you just have to make the most of whatever opportunity you're given. He has certainly done that ... this is an amazing moment for him."
Some of her advice to Fultz and the 2017 NBA draft class is to enjoy time with family as well as "being an amateur still." Draft day is "life changing," according to Plum, and while the uncertainty of the future can make it a nerve-racking day, she says to enjoy that feeling of the unknown.
"You don't really know what's going on, and at times that may feel stressful, but as soon as you're with [a team], it's different," Plum said. "It's a new phase of your life, so don't take for granted the phase that you're in now. Appreciate every bit of the moment because it only happens once."
Plum would tell Fultz exactly what she'd tell the rest of the draft class: Soak it all in; enjoy it. And if the two Huskies end up making history as the first tandem of top picks in the WNBA and NBA drafts to come from the same school in the same year, that would just be icing on the cake.
Source: http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/19680574/kelsey-plum-some-nba-draft-advice-fellow-washington-huskies-standout-markelle-fultz
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