Villanova product Saddiq Bey became the latest Wildcat to have his National Basketball Association dream realized when the forward was selected as the 19^th overall pick in the first round of Wednesday night's draft.
           
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 6-8 Bey will land in Detroit as part of a 3-way trade that will send the Pistons Luke Kennard to the Los Angeles Clippers and Landry Shamet from Los Angeles to Brooklyn.
           
Bey helped lead Villanova to a share of the BIG EAST regular season title in 2019-20 with a 24-7 overall record. He became the third Villanova player in the last four seasons to earn the Julius Erving Award as the nation's top small forward, joining Josh Hart (2017) and Mikal Bridges in that exclusive club.
           
"Saddiq has a unique combination of being ready to play with a great basketball IQ, but he also really has an upside," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "I think Detroit is getting a good young player who is going to be ready to play right away. I believe he's a guy who will grow into a terrific player."
           
Since 2017, five Wildcats have been chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft. The full list includes Hart (2017), Bridges (2018), Donte DiVincenzo (2018), Omari Spellman (2018), and now Bey. Additionally, Jalen Brunson (2018) and Eric Paschall (2019) were second round picks. Paschall was named to the NBA's All-Rookie first team in 2019-20. Ryan Arcidiacono has also earned a place in the NBA as a member of the Chicago Bulls.
           
"Saddiq talks to Eric, Jalen, Mikal, Donte and Josh about what the NBA is all about," Wright noted. "We encourage them to talk with one another and they really do that. I take the most pride in that they really help one another."

Bey is the eighth Villanova product selected in the first round since 2000.