CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers selected forward Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick and Sergey Karasev with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. The team also selected Carrick Felix (33rd overall pick) in the second round and traded the draft rights to Allen Crabbe (31st overall pick) to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for two future second round picks (2015 and 2016).
Bennett, 20, was named Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in his only year at UNLV. The Toronto, Ontario native was named First-Team All-Mountain West, MWC All-Tournament team and was one of 15 finalist on the ballot for the John R. Wooden National Player of the Year Award. The 6-8, 240-pound forward averaged 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 27.1 minutes. He also connected on .533 percent from the field, including a team-best .375 mark from the three-point line. An early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft, Bennett recorded 12 double-doubles, which ranked him third nationally among all freshman.
Bennett reached double-figure scoring in 28 of his 35 games, including 13 with 20-or-more points. He posted a career-high 28 points against Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 5 on 10-13 (.769) shooting from the field with 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. He tallied 22 points on 9-14 (.643) shooting and a season-high 16 rebounds against Air Force on Jan. 12.
Karasev, 19, who spent the 2012-13 season with BC Triumph in Russia’s top league, appeared in 12 games with averages of 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 33.3 minutes. The 6-7, 203-pound guard/forward also appeared in 11 games in the ULEB Eurocup with averages of 16.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.7 minutes. He has also competed for the Russian National Team during the 2012 Olympics.
Felix, 22, played three seasons at Arizona State where he was named Second Team All-Pac 12 and to the Pac 12 All-Defensive Team as a senior. The 6-6, 210-pound forward averaged 14.6 points on .500 shooting from the field, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks in 35.3 minutes in 2012-13. He reached double figure scoring in 28 of 35 games played and recorded 13 double-doubles. Felix tallied a career-high 24 points on 8-10 shooting against Arkansas on Nov. 23 and pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds with 16 points against UCLA on Feb. 27. Felix appeared in 31 games at the College of Southern Idaho during his freshman year before transferring to Arizona State.