Aaron Gordon, Nick Johnson expected to add to Arizona Wildcats impressive NBA draft production

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Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson (with Sean Miller in the middle) should be all smiles Thursday during the NBA draft (Pac-12 Networks video capture)

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MOST NBA DRAFT PICKS SINCE 1988
Source: University of Arizona media relations department
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Former Arizona Wildcats standouts Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson, the Pac-12’s Freshman and Player of the Year, respectively, should increase tomorrow the program’s NBA draft total to 38 players since 1988.

An important element to the growth of the program since Lute Olson was hired in 1983 is the school’s fortunes in the NBA draft. Gordon and Johnson should add to the list in this year’s draft (4:30 p.m., Tucson time), keeping the Wildcats as one of the most successful programs in recent NBA draft history.

Arizona enters the draft tied with traditional powerhouse programs Duke and Kentucky with 36 draft picks since 1988. Duke (Jabari Bird and Rodney Hood) and Kentucky (Julius Randle and James Young) figure to remain in step with Arizona with two probable draft picks in the first round each.

Kansas, in fourth with 33 draft picks since 1988, also has two likely picks — Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid — who will be lottery selections.

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North Carolina and UCLA are next with 31. The Tarheels’ James McAdoo is a likely selection, probably in the second round. UCLA has three probable picks — Zach LaVine and Kyle Anderson (first round) and Jordan Adams (possible second round).

Gordon is projected as a lottery pick, with forecasts having him going mostly between No. 6 and No. 10. Johnson, a guard noted for his defense, is a likely early- to mid-second-round pick.

Arizona has produced a total of 65 NBA draft selections in its history, including 18 first-round picks. Ten of Arizona’s last 12 NBA draft picks have been first-rounders.

The Wildcats have 11 lottery picks. Gordon figures to increase that total to 12. He will likely be Sean Miller’s second lottery selection following Derrick Williams (the second pick overall in the 2011 draft).

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Johnson, who worked out for 15 teams over the last month, is widely projected as a second-round pick. If that happens, he will join some prosperous company. Luke Walton, Gilbert Arenas, Sean Rooks, Jud Buechler and Steve Kerr are noted second-round picks from Arizona since 1988.

PROJECTIONS FOR AARON GORDON AND NICK JOHNSON
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.