The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft has officially been completed, and Atlanta is sure that they've found their guys for the future. After securing Jalen Johnson's right-hand man with Kingston Flemings at #8, the Hawks also took their swing at a big man with their later pick, securing St. John's forward - Zuby Ejiofor - at pick #23.
While most of Atlanta's draft hype will remain centered around their lottery pick Kingston Flemings, Ejiofor is no player to overlook. After a stellar senior season at St. John's, where he averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and almost four assists per game, Ejiofor now joins a storied group of NBA draftees that were coached under the legendary Rick Pitino.
Historically, players drafted under the Pitino tree have fared pretty well in the modern NBA. Among the 33 players that have now been drafted into the NBA under this criteria, the most notable are former Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell, Terry Rozier, and currently, the 3x All-NBA selection for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell.
These are just three of the most recent players that have emerged as valuable starters in the NBA, and all three of them have been on record crediting Rick Pitino and his coaching for their development.
When Donovan Mitchell first arrived at Louisville, he was unable to finish with his left hand. Fast forward two years, and he was a lottery pick. Terry Rozier came into Louisville as a 3-star prospect and left as a first-round pick. Similarly, Montrezl Harrell also came into Louisville as a 3-star prospect, and left as a national champion and a second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
The Pitino pattern is more than consistent
With all of the recent success that Rick Pitino's players have had, there's no reason to think Ejiofor can't be the next name added to this historic list.
For Atlanta, the pick was as seamless as could be. During the Hawks' most recent playoff series against the Knicks, their frontcourt was absolutely dominated. Even after taking an early 2-1 series lead, the Knicks were never truly out of the fight, out-muscling and overwhelming Atlanta's paint presence game after game.
Ejiofor is a player that perfectly encapsulates Atlanta's need for size and physicality in the trenches. He's prided himself on his defensive versatility and willingness to attack mismatches, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo now residing in the Hawks' division, Atlanta was smart to pick up a guy who can crowd the paint without hesitation.
While Flemings will remain as the face of the Hawks' rebuild into contention, Zuby Ejiofor, along with everyone else immersed in the trenches, are the backbone to whatever success this team might find in the upcoming seasons.
Atlanta has shown a clear direction with their selections in this draft, now it's just up to the team to remain linear on that path. If Rick Pitino's players have shown anything over the years, it's that they enter the league ready to meet its demands.
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