Former UCF guard Aubrey Dawkins did not hear his name called last night in the 2019 NBA draft, but it did not take long for him to find his new home, as news broke that the 24-year-old signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this morning. Dawkins, the son of UCF coach Johnny Dawkins, visited New Orleans for a pre-draft workout at the beginning of this month.
Aub to the @PelicansNBA! 🙌
Congrats Aubrey Dawkins on starting his pro career in New Orleans!!#ChargeOn // #BuiltByUCF ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Dihr1zrbHc
— UCF Men’s Hoops (@UCF_MBB) June 21, 2019
Dawkins only played one season for the Knights after transferring from Michigan, but he impressed during his short stint in Orlando, averaging 15.6 points and five rebounds per game. He put on one of the most memorable performances in UCF men’s basketball history in the NCAA Tournament this past March in UCF’s devastating loss to No. 1 seeded Duke and the nation’s top player Zion Williamson.
Williamson was drafted by the Pelicans first overall last night and Dawkins will join him, as well as an array of former Los Angeles Lakers players headed to New Orleans as a result of their recent trade with the Lakers involving NBA star Anthony Davis.
UCF guard and Orlando’s own B.J. Taylor will get an opportunity of his own at the next level, as UCF men’s basketball announced via Twitter this afternoon that he will be playing for the Orlando Magic during the team’s summer league.
Boone ➡️ @UCF_MBB ➡️ @OrlandoMagic
This is too perfect! Mr. Orlando @BJTaylor_1 will play summer league with his hometown Magic! 🙌#ChargeOn // #BuiltByUCF ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/WjdxqhUalL
— UCF Men’s Hoops (@UCF_MBB) June 21, 2019
Taylor averaged 15.9 points per game and appeared in 104 games for the Knights and is a graduate of the local Boone High School.
UCF’s 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall still awaits any possible NBA action.
