Brooklyn takes Brown, Knicks pick twice in 2nd round, three Johnnies drafted
By Noah Zimmerman
noah@queensledger.com
BARCLAYS CENTER – The next wave of NBA talent gathered in Brooklyn last Tuesday and Wednesday night for the 2026 NBA Draft.
It was a big night for the Brooklyn Nets, picking 6th overall, their highest selection in 16 years. It was also a special night for the St. John’s – with multiple draft selections for the first time since 2000 – and for the Knicks, who reportedly had hopes for Red Storm star Zuby Ejiofor.
Brown vs Acuff at #6
The first four picks of the draft went as expected; Washington took BYU star AJ Dybantsa, Utah grabbed Darryn Peterson from Kansas, Memphis selected Cam Boozer out of Duke, and Chicago brought in UNC’s Caleb Wilson.
With the 5th pick, the LA Clippers selected Keaton Wagler to start a series of nearly impossible picks. It left Brooklyn and General Manager Sean Marks with a brutal choice between Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. and Louisville head-turner Mikel Brown Jr., both dynamic scoring and playmaking point guards.
These decisions come down purely to fit and feel, and Brooklyn went out of their way to make sure they got their guy. They reportedly met with Brown three times, including a trip to his home in Orlando.
There will undoubtedly be constant comparisons to Acuff for years to come – Darius was the third highest-scoring player in Division I men’s hoops last year. Sacramento got their next big backcourt talent with the #7 pick.
Acuff scored 23.5 points per game to Brown’s 18.2, also out-assisting him, but Mikel missed a large portion of the season with a back injury. Barring continued issues, the consensus is that Brown may have the higher ceiling of the two.
Nets round out draft with Jefferson and Bilodeau
The Nets made two more selections in the draft. With their recently-acquired 28th overall pick, Brooklyn brought in Joshua Jefferson. Then in the second round they grabbed UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau.
The forwards should help Brooklyn round out their frontcourt, especially in the wake of Claxton’s departure.
Knicks barely miss Zuby
Just one draft pick separated St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor from the Knicks. It was seemingly a perfect fit for a player with experience at MSG and a team in need of dynamic bench players while looking to cut costs.
Unfortunately for New York, Zuby was snatched up by the Atlanta Hawks at pick #23, bringing a hidden gem of the draft to the Peach State.
Ejiofor may have truly been the only player New York had their eye on in the opening round. With him off the board, the Knicks orchestrated a series of trades to end up with a handful of second round picks.
With two selections, New York added German guard Jack Kayil with the 39th overall pick and Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel at #47.
Red Storm represented on Draft night
Two more Red Storm standout seniors were selected in the Second Round on Wednesday night. It marked the first time in modern program history that three St. John’s players were selected in the NBA Draft.
Right after the Knicks took Kayil, the Boston Celtics grabbed Dillon Mitchell, making him the latest Johnnie to head to New England. Time will tell if he can make the Celtics roster, something 2024-25 St. John’s standouts RJ Luis Jr. and Aaron Scott couldn’t do.
With just a few picks left in the draft, Bryce Hopkins became the third Johnnie to hear his name called. The Red Storm forward went to Denver, where he’ll have a chance to help the Nuggets regain their footing in a tough Western Conference.
