Cassius Stanley hits Duke basketball milestone with draft selection

Duke basketball star Cassius Stanley was drafted surprisingly low in the 2020 NBA Draft.

All draft-eligible Duke basketball players have been selected in the 2020 NBA Draft as Cassius Stanley was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 54 overall pick in Wednesday night’s draft.

Stanley followed teammates Vernon Carey Jr. and Tre Jones in this year’s draft, all second-round picks, as the trio will go their separate ways and officially into the life of an NBA player.

However, despite many second-round grades on the former Blue Devil shooting guard, Stanley finally being selected six picks from the end of the draft is inexcusably low for a player with as much as oozing potential as the All-ACC Freshman selection.

ALSO READ: Spurs land biggest steal of draft in Blue Devil star guard

Cassius Stanley’s athleticism is off the charts, breaking vertical jump records at Duke that were set one season prior with Zion Williamson, last season’s No. 1 overall pick.

Not to make the indication that a vertical jump should indicate how high a player is selected in the NBA Draft, but with so few pre-draft workouts, the tape speaks for itself, and Stanley knows how to get to the rim and attack the basket at full speed.

Cassius Stanley was the only draft pick for the Indiana Pacers in 2020, but the star of the franchise, Victor Oladipo, is already reaching out to its newest member and welcoming him to the squad.

Cassius Stanley helps Duke basketball reach draft milestone

Not only will Cassius Stanley help the Pacers get more athletic as the franchise tries to remake its roster, but the former Blue Devil helped his college program reach a draft milestone as the 100th player to be drafted from the school.

ALSO READ: Duke standout staying in North Carolina, drafted by Hornets

Stanley is also the third Blue Devil selected by the Indiana Pacers, joining Thomas Hill and Miles Plumlee, while being the 67th draft pick under head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

It remains to be seen whether Cassius Stanley will make the Pacers Opening Night roster, but the explosive guard could benefit from a season, or a couple of weeks, in the NBA G-League to adjust to the professional lifestyle.