Houstan, Diabate Selected by Magic, Clippers in Second Round of NBA Draft

Houstan, Diabate Selected by Magic, Clippers in Second Round of NBA Draft

• Michigan NBA History | Wolverines in Professional Basketball

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — University of Michigan men’s basketball freshman guard Caleb Houstan was chosen by the Orlando Magic in the second round (32nd overall) in the 2022 NBA Draft Thursday night (June 23) held at the Barclays Center. Classmate Moussa Diabate joined Houstan in the second round after his second-round selection (43rd overall) selection by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Houston, who is the third first-year Wolverine to leave early for the NBA Draft, becomes the 64th all-time U-M player drafted into the NBA. He joins No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero (Duke) as well as former Wolverines Franz and Moritz Wagner and Ignas Brazdeikis in Orlando.

One of two Wolverines to start all 34 games last season, Houstan averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his lone season in Ann Arbor. Posting double figures in half of his games (17), he had back-to-back career-high games of 21 points against Rutgers (Feb. 23) and No. 15 Illinois (Feb. 27).

With 55 percent of his offense from long range, Houstan led the Wolverines with 60 three-pointers. He became the first Michigan freshman to eclipse 50 in a season since Ignas Brazdeikis (56; 2018-19), who also is a native of Mississauga, Ontario. In addition to his scoring, Houstan had 11 games with 5+ rebounds, grabbing a career-best 10 twice against Tarleton State (Nov. 24) and at Wisconsin (Feb. 10).

Diabate, U-M’s fourth freshman to enter the NBA Draft, made an impact with his high energy and highlight-reel dunks. Starting 26 of 32 games, he posted nine points and six rebounds per game, helping him to Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. He highlighted his 13 double-figure games with a career-best 28 points at Iowa (Feb. 17), where he finished 12-for-15 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds.

In addition to those eight rebounds against the Hawkeyes, he recorded 5+ boards in 23 games, including a career-best 13 against Minnesota (Dec. 11) — one of his two 10-plus rebound games. He was second shooting on the team in field-goal percentage (.542) and 28 blocks. Combining with Hunter Dickinson‘s 49, the duo accounted for 77 of U-M’s 112 blocks.

The selection of Houstan and Diabate marks the 16th time U-M has had multiple players selected during the same draft. The last was in 2021 when Franz Wagner was selected eight overall by the Orlando Magic and Isaiah Livers, who was selected by his home state Detroit Pistons with the 42nd pick.

Despite going undrafted, graduate guards Eli Brooks and DeVante’ Jones are looking for free agent deals to play in the NBA Summer League, which will take place July 7-17 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. All 75 games of the 11-day competition will air live on television on ESPN networks or NBA TV.

Michigan NBA Draft Notes

• Michigan has 65 NBA Draft selections; with 14 picks since 2011 (nine first-round, six second-round)

• Michigan has 29 first-round selections — last: Franz Wagner; Orlando Magic (No. 8 overall, 2021)

• Michigan has 13 second-round selections — last: Isaiah Livers; Detroit Pistons (No 42 overall, 2021)

• Michigan has two No. 1 overall picks — Cazzie Russell (1966) and Chris Webber (1993)

• Michigan has six top-five picks — last: Juwan Howard; No. 5, Washington Wizards (1994)

• Michigan has 18 lottery picks — last: Franz Wagner; Orlando Magic (No. 8 overall, 2021)

• Michigan has had multiple Wolverines selected in the same draft 16 times — last: Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers (2021)