No Red Storm, but NBA Draft features a few Queens connections

The Orlando Magic took former Archbishop Molloy star Cole Anthony with the 15th pick in the NBA Draft Wednesday Photo by Keenan Hairston/Flickr

By David Brand

No St. John’s player heard their name called on Draft Night, but NBA teams did pick a few rookies with Queens ties Wednesday.

And no, we’re not talking about New Mexico State forward Trevelin Queen. He went undrafted (and he’s from Maryland).

First up was former Archbishop Molloy High School standout guard Cole Anthony, picked 15th by the Orlando Magic. 

“He’s the best point guard I’ve seen since Stephon Marbury at that age,” veteran Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello told the New York Post in 2016. Marbury, from Brooklyn, played for powerhouse Lincoln High School, the Nets and the Knicks.

Anthony, the son of former Knick Greg Anthony, grew up in New York City. He left Molloy and finished his prep career at Oak Hill Academy in Maryland before heading to the University of North Carolina for a year.  

He’ll play for Orlando, but he will definitely be back in New York City — his stepfather Ray McGuire is running for mayor.

With the 20th pick in the draft, the Miami Heat selected Nigeran-born power forward Precious Achiuwa, who received the news while sitting in a home surrounded by family members.

That home may have been the Long Island City apartment that Achiuwa moved into at the start of the pandemic. The monster dunker came to Queens to prepare for the draft and to be close to his brother, former St. John’s power forward God’sgift Achiuwa, a fellow Queens resident. 

There were several picks whose roots reach the Queens border. The Knicks took a New York native with the 8th pick: Wooden Award Winner Obi Toppin is from Bushwick.

Second round pick Daniel Oturu was born in Brooklyn and another second rounder, Nick Richards, played high school ball in Manhasset.