Tech player selected in 2nd round of NBA draft

Jahmi’us Ramsey has reached one of his long-term goals.

The former Texas Tech guard was afforded a rare opportunity, hearing his name called and being selected in the second round with the 43rd pick by the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Draft on Wednesday.

“NBA draft tonight. 3rd consecutive year for our program in the Green Room. @newanimprovedJR proud of you and love you. Never Lose Your Chip. I’ve got your back. #4to1,” Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Chris Beard wrote Wednesday afternoon on Twitter before the draft.

Ramsey responded with, “Love you coach thank you for everything my guy ! #gunsup”

The NBA Draft, originally scheduled to be in-person at the Barclays Center on June 25, was pushed back and switched to a virtual format due to COVID-19.

Instead, the NBA hosted the event from the ESPN studios in Bristol, Connecticut.

Ramsey will join Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton, who was picked 12th overall, and Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman Sr. (35th pick).

The Kings also held the 52nd pick.

Ramsey continued the legacy of NBA Draft picks under Beard, which started with Zhaire Smith (Philadelphia 76ers) who came out after his freshman year and was drafted 16th overall by the Phoenix Suns. Last year Jarrett Culver (Minnesota Timberwolves) left Texas Tech after his sophomore season and was drafted sixth overall by the Phoenix Suns.

Both were involved in draft-night trades before ending up with their current teams.

In NBA Draft history, Texas Tech has had 24 players selected, including first-round selections of Smith (16), Culver (6) and Tony Battie who was taken at No. 5 in the 1997 draft by Denver.

Ramsey, who elected to enter the NBA Draft on April 25 after leading the Red Raiders in scoring this past season, was among some of the top players in the draft who were invited to join the telecast virtually as selections were made throughout the night.

“I am super excited for the next step in my journey,” he wrote in a memo posted on Twitter on April 25.

Ramsey was fifth in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 15 points, and shot 43 percent from the 3-point line last season. He also averaged four rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest en route to second-team all-Big 12 honors.

Ramsey became the third freshman in Texas Tech history to lead the team in scoring, averaging 15 points per game last season. He also ended the season going 60-for-141 (42.6 percent) from the 3-point line.

After not hiring an agent to retain his college eligibility, Ramsey, the first Red Raider to be named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, announced Aug. 12 he signed with sports agency Jay Z’s Roc Nation ahead of the NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Duncanville, Texas, who was also named NABC All-District First Team, Big 12 All-Newcomer Team, Big 12 All-Freshman Team and was a three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week selection, is following in the footsteps of Smith and Culver, who were selected in the first round as underclassmen over the last two years.

Ramsey finished in double figures in 21 of 27 games played, including scoring 20 or more in seven games. He poured in a career-high of 27 points against Long Island in nonconference play before netting 26 during a road game against Kansas.