In preparation for the start of the NBA G-League season, they held their 24th annual draft, seeing two former HBCU players hear their names called.
With the sixth overall selection, former Tennessee State all-conference forward Christian Brown was picked up by the Sioux Falls Skyforce (G-League affiliate of the Miami Heat).
Brown played three seasons at Tennessee State from 2021-2024, transferring to the team after playing two seasons at Georgia.
He averaged 11.8 points on 49% shooting from the field and 37% shooting from three-point range. He also added 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 55 games.
The Georgia transfer was named to the All-OVC Second Team in his final season. He led the team and averaged 12.8 points per game.
With the 17th pick in the second round of the G-League Draft, former Alabama A&M center Olisa Akonobi was picked by the Rip City Remix (G-League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers).
This is the second year in a row that Akonobi has been taken in the G-League Draft, having been selected by the Grand Rapids Gold (the G-League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets) last year.
Akonobi’s college career began at Morehouse, where he played three seasons from 2018-2021. He averaged 4.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 58 games playing limited minutes.
He transferred to Alabama A&M in 2022 and was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year in his only season with the team.
The Morehouse transfer compiled 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks (led SWAC) in 31 games.