Reports: ASU’s undrafted Dort, Cheatham sign with NBA teams
Jun 20, 2019, 10:36 PM | Updated: 10:41 pm
On the left, ASU's Luguentz Dort. ASU's Zylan Cheatham on the right. (AP photos)
(AP photos)
ASU men’s basketball was unable to get its first player drafted since the 2013 NBA Draft.
On Thursday, Luguentz Dort and Zylan Cheatham both went undrafted, extending the streak since Carrick Felix went No. 33 overall in the 2013 draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But shortly after, both signed two-way contracts with NBA teams.
Dort signed a full two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
Cheatham will be headed to the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-way contract, which was also reported by Givony.
Both Dort and Cheatham played just one season at ASU, but both made tremendous impacts for the Sun Devils as they reached their second NCAA Tournament in a row.
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Dort declared for the NBA Draft following his freshman season. Seen in some mock drafts as a potential first round pick, teams didn’t feel the same way about the athletic 6-foot-4 guard who displayed skill attacking the rim on offense during his sole college year.
Dort averaged 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals at ASU. Weighing 210 pounds and a 6-foot-8.5 wingspan, he also had the size to defend guards and forwards when needed.
Cheatham was a key cog in the Sun Devils’ efforts this last season. He recorded the first triple-double in team history, and then became the ninth ASU player to grab 20 rebounds in one game, according to Sports Illustrated — and then he did it again.
He averaged 12.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his lone season at ASU after transferring from San Diego State and sitting out a year.
Though neither were drafted, the Thunder hope Dort could be a role player who slipped through the ranks. Perhaps soon Cheatham will find the same.
“I think both these guys are going to make the organization that they go to extremely happy,” ASU head coach Bobby Hurley said on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Doug & Wolf Show on Thursday morning.
“I know the coaches will be happy to coach two guys like them.”
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