INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers Thursday night selected Myles Turner with their first-round draft choice (11th overall) in the 2015 NBA Draft. Turner, a 6-11, 240-pound forward/center, played collegiately at Texas, averaging 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game. Turner was named the 2015 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
The selection was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at the draft, conducted in Brooklyn's Barclays Center. Turner was in attendance at the draft.
"He's a seven-footer who is versatile and can play two positions," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "He has a 7-4 wingspan and he's a good shooting big man. We know he improved in his one year in college and will make big strides as he goes on. We look forward to working with him."
"I felt very comfortable going to Indiana and being within that system that's looking to change," said Turner. "Hopefully, we can be able to make it to the playoffs next year. I am very happy with where I ended up. I'm an NBA player now and nobody can take that away from me. All this hard work got me to where I am today, and I couldn't be happier."
In the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft the Pacers selected Joe Young with the 43rd overall pick. Young is a 6-2, 180-pound guard that played collegiately at Oregon and as a senior was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year.