BROOKLYN, NY – The West Coast Conference made history at the 2022 NBA Draft Thursday night at the Barclays Center, as the conference featured two players selected in the first 12 picks for the first time in conference history. The WCC also garnered three draft selections in the first 31 picks. 

For the second straight year, the WCC featured a top-5 draft pick. Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren was selected second overall by Oklahoma City. Later in the first round, the Thunder also picked Santa Clara's Jalen Williams with the 12th overall pick. Holmgren follows former Bulldog Jalen Suggs who was drafted fifth overall by Orlando in the 2021 NBA Draft. The WCC now boasts six top-5 picks all-time and Holmgren becomes the second top-2 pick in WCC history (Bill Russell, 2nd in 1956). 

This is the fourth time in WCC history - third time since 2019 - that the Conference has totaled two first round draft picks (2021, 2019, 1978). 

Gonzaga's Andrew Nembhard was the first draft pick taken in the second round as Indiana chose the former Zag with the 31st overall selection. 
 
#WCCHOOPS IN THE 2022 NBA DRAFT
First Round
2. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga (Oklahoma City)
12. Jalen Williams, Santa Clara (Oklahoma City)
Second Round
31. Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga (Indiana)

#WCChoops has produced six top-5 draft picks since 1956
2022 – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga – 2nd
2021 – Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga – 5th
2006 – Adam Morrison, Gonzaga – 3rd
1979 – Bill Cartwright, USF – 3rd
1958 – Mike Farmer, USF – 3rd
1956 – Bill Russell, USF – 2nd
 
Multiple first round selections for #WCChoops alums
2022 – Chet Holmgren – Gonzaga (2/Oklahoma City) & Jalen Williams (12/Oklahoma City) – Santa Clara
2021 – Jalen Suggs (5/Orlando) & Corey Kispert (15/Washington) – Gonzaga
2019 – Rui Hachimura (9/Washington) & Brandon Clarke (21/Oklahoma City – Gonzaga
1978 – James Hardy (11/New Orleans Jazz) & Winford Boynes (13/New Jersey – San Francisco