Immanuel Quickley (Vicky Graff Photo)
The NBA Draft on November 18 will be virtual from the ESPN studio in Bristol, Conn., but that is not going to stop Immanuel Quickley and his family from enjoying his special moments. He’s projected as a second-round pick after earning Southeastern Conference Player of the Year honors as a sophomore at UK last season.
He’s been in New York recently working out for various general managers. His mother, Nitrease Quickley, says he has also been “spending time with Roc Nation understanding the business aspect of being an NBA player” when his career starts soon.
“We are praying and believing that Immanuel will go in the first round. We are getting more excited every day,” Nitrease Quickley said. “Immanuel has his tailor-made suit, and we all have our formal dresses as we are prepared to celebrate this unbelievable goal in our comfy family room. So much to celebrate and be thankful for.”
How can you not love that attitude?
Mock drafts I’ve seen have Quickley going into the second round. Krysten Peek, who writes for Rivals and Yahoo, says Quickley’s shooting performance in the recent NBA combine helped him.
“There is a lot of upside to him early to mid second round,” Peek said. “The way the NBA is trending they want shooters and playmakers. He showed last year he is that guy.
“When players do well at the combine it forces every team wherever they are drafting to take a second look. He really helped himself. Myself, I love IQ. I still think if there had been a NCAA Tournament last year it would have really helped IQ’s draft stock a lot.”
