Ex-Terp Wiggins drafted in second-round by Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Former Maryland wing Aaron Wiggins had to wait late into the evening to hear his name called, but the 22-year-old's dream of being drafted in the NBA came true on Thursday night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Wiggins with the 55th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Wiggins joins Josh Giddey, Tre Mann and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl as the four selections that will be headed to OKC this season.
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Following the 2020-21 college basketball season, Wiggins declared for the NBA Draft but retained his collegiate eligibility at first. The 6-foot-5 wing was invited to the G-League Elite Camp and excelled, which earned him a late invitation to the 2021 NBA Combine.
While Wiggins didn't perform exceptionally well at the NBA Combine, he believed he showed enough in front of scouts to keep his name in the draft. It ended up working out, obviously, as he heard his name called 55th overall.
Wiggins has the potential to be a solid three-and-D player in the NBA, but also showcased his ability to score at all three levels at Maryland. His shooting numbers fluctuated over his three seasons in College Park, but he was by far the Terps' best scorer a season ago and finished the year playing the best basketball of his career.
Often in the NBA, it's difficult for second-round picks to contribute and stick around. The Nikola Jokics and Draymond Greens are few and far between. Yet, in Oklahoma City, Wiggins should at least have a decent chance to make the roster on what will be once again a rebuilding team.
