NEW YORK — Two players who competed at local showcases in recent years were drafted in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft.
The 2022 Bob Kirk Invitational Showcase (BKIS) was a preview of some of the brightest stars in basketball.
Mikel Brown Jr. became the fifth player from that year’s showcase drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday, going sixth overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
Brown scored 11 points with a steal in Sunrise Christian’s lone game at Bob Kirk Arena against Legacy.
He averaged 18.2 points per game at Louisville this winter, earning third-team All-ACC honors.
Brown was the No. 7 recruit in the Class of 2025.
Four players from the 2022 BKIS have already been drafted.
The Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg first overall last year, while Derik Queen went 13th to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Liam McNeeley was 29th overall to the Charlotte Hornets.
Matas Buzelis was drafted 11th overall in 2024 to the Chicago Bulls.
Later in the evening, Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie went 17th overall to the Detroit Pistons.
He played for Brewster Academy in last year’s Western Maryland Classic.
Against Sunrise, he led Brewster with 21 points, adding two rebounds and two assists.
He was an honorable mention All-American and earned first-team All-ACC honors.
He led the ACC with 23.2 points per game, breaking the ACC freshman record for single-season scoring average and 30-point games (8).
Okorie set Stanford freshman records in points, field goals and free throws.