2021 NBA Draft picks: Florida PG Tre Mann selected in first round by Oklahoma City Thunder

By Adam Silverstein
July 29, 2021
2021 NBA Draft picks: Florida PG Tre Mann selected in first round by Oklahoma City Thunder
Basketball

Image Credit: GatorsMBK / Twitter

For the first time in nine years, a Florida Gators basketball player was selected in the first round of an NBA Draft. Point guard Tre Mann was chosen with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 edition of the event on Thursday by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After emerging as a team leader and consummate playmaker for Florida last season, the sophomore was quick to hire an agent and make himself ineligible to return to school once That paid off for Mann, a Gainesville native who became the first Florida player drafted in Oklahoma City franchise history.

Mann averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. He was frequently the Gators’ leading scorer down the stretch of the campaign and posted 19 points or more in six of their final seven games.

Though his departure was expected — Mann tested the waters after the 2019-20 season and significantly improved his level of play as a sophomore — it was nevertheless a significant blow for a team that failed to meet expectations in 2020-21 and had a wild offseason with massive changes to its roster and coaching staff.

Later in the draft Thursday night, Gators guard Scottie Lewis was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 56 overall pick in the second round. He is the first Florida player selected by Charlotte in history.

With Mann and Lewis both off the board, the Gators had two players picked in the same draft for the first time since 2011.

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