Draft 2017

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The Phoenix Suns selected Alec Peters from the Valparaiso University with the 54th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Peters, a prolific three-point shooter at 6-9 and 232 pounds, was named the Horizon League Player of the Year as a senior following a four-year career where he became Valparaiso’s all-time leader in scoring rebounding, field goals made, free throws made and games started. In 2016-17, the skillful big man was the only player in Division I to rank in the top 20 nationally in both scoring and rebounding as he led his conference with 23.0 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game.

“He was one of the best shooters in this draft,” GM Ryan McDonough said. “He had a very decorated career at [Valparaiso]. Frankly, throughout the college season we had him ranked a lot higher than the mid-fifties.”

For his career, Peters averaged 17.5 points in 134 games for the Crusaders and his 2,348 total points are third-most in Horizon League history. Named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team as a senior, the 22-year-old was also a three-time All-Horizon Academic Team member. A native of Washington, Illinois, Peters was a first-team all-state selection in each of his final two seasons at Washington High School.

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Phoenix Suns Draft Alec Peters with the 54th Pick

The Phoenix Suns tonight selected Kansas forward Josh Jackson with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

“We really like Josh’s talent. We love his fit for our roster,” GM Ryan McDonough said. “If you look at every team’s roster and which player in this draft fits a team the best, we think the fit with Josh Jackson to the Phoenix Suns is perfect.”

Jackson, an intense competitor and athletic two-way player, was a 2017 Wooden All-America selection and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in his lone season at Kansas. At 6-8 and 207 pounds, the 20-year-old utilized his all-around game to help the Jayhawks win a Big 12 title, averaging 16.3 points on 51.3 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks over 35 contests. With the versatility to play multiple positions, Jackson can create for himself and his teammates on the offensive end while possessing the ability to be elite on the defensive end.

“I think the fact that he was drafted fourth in this draft will motivate him even more,” McDonough said. “Just getting to know him over the past couple months and watching him play, I think he feels he’s the best player in this draft class. My guess is he will try to set out to start proving that when we go up to Las Vegas and start Summer League.”

Born in San Diego and raised in Detroit, Jackson completed his high school career at Prolific Prep in Napa, California. A McDonald’s High School All-American, Jackson has won three gold medals with USA Basketball, earning gold at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship, the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. During his one season in Lawrence, he broke or tied four Kansas freshman records with 13 double-doubles, 220 field goals made, 429 field goals attempted and 258 rebounds (tying former Suns forward Danny Manning’s mark set in 1984-85).

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Phoenix Suns Select Josh Jackson Fourth Overall

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Davon Reed, the team’s selection with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Reed, a sweet-shooting wing who plays with intensity on both ends of the floor, was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team for his senior season at the University of Miami in 2016-17. The 22-year-old also earned All-ACC Third Team honors after averaging career-highs of 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 33 games for the Hurricanes. At 6-6 and 208 pounds with a 7-1 wingspan, Reed ranked sixth in ACC play by shooting 85.7 percent from the free throw line and 10th by shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range in 2016-17.

Overall, Reed finished his four-year career at Miami ranked fourth in school history in games played (131), fifth in minutes played (3,679), seventh in three-point makes (202) and 16th in scoring (1,343). In addition to many other academic honors throughout his college career, he won the ACC’s Skip Prosser Award in 2017, presented annually to the conference’s top scholar-athlete in men’s basketball. A native of Ewing, New Jersey, Reed was a star prep player at Princeton Day School.

Reed will make his professional debut as a member of the Summer Suns at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas.

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Phoenix Suns Sign Davon Reed

The Phoenix Suns selected Davon Reed from the University of Miami with the 32nd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Reed, a gifted athlete who, like Jackson, plays with intensity on both ends of the floor, was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team for his senior season at Miami in 2016-17. The 22-year-old guard also earned All-ACC Third Team honors after averaging career-highs of 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 33 games for the Hurricanes. At 6-6 and 208 pounds with a 7-1 wingspan, Reed owns a sweet shot, ranking sixth in ACC play by shooting 85.7 percent from the free throw line and 10th by shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range in 2016-17.

“He’s a blue-collar player,” GM Ryan McDonough said. “We needed somebody that could defend their positon, make open spot-up shots and brought some toughness and grit and reliability. We feel Davon checks all those boxes.”

Overall, Reed finished his four-year career at Miami ranked fourth in school history in games played (131), fifth in minutes played (3,679), seventh in three-point makes (202) and 16th in scoring (1,343). In addition to an abundance of other academic honors throughout his college career, he won the ACC’s Skip Prosser Award in 2017, presented annually to the conference’s top scholar-athlete in men’s basketball. A native of Ewing, New Jersey, Reed was a star prep player at Princeton Day School.

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Phoenix Suns Draft Davon Reed with the 32nd Pick

Ryan Wolf

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2017 Suns Mock Draft Tracker

At just 19 years old, Lonzo Ball has already made a name for himself being named the nation’s top high school basketball player in 2016 (Mr. Basketball USA) to becoming consensus First-Team All-American in 2017. Ball is the ultimate leader and teammate on the court. He is known as a pass-first point guard and was the NCAA season assist leader with 7.6 assists, but this doesn’t mean he can't score. Although it may not be the most fundamental shot, it’s extremely efficient. In his one season at UCLA, Ball shot 55.1% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range. He is a mismatch for most guards standing at 6’6” with a 6’9” wingspan and knows how to fight his way for rebounds. Between his basketball IQ and athleticism, Ball has a chance to become a superstar at the next level.

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Lonzo Ball: Draft Profile and Stats

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