Photo by: AlSamuels.com
Riller Selected By Hornets In 2020 NBA Draft
11/19/2020 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston 6-foot-3 guard Grant Riller was selected 56th overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
A three-time All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team and two-time NABC All-District 10 First Team selection, Riller became just the fourth men's basketball player in program history to be drafted. He graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in sociology, before participating in individual workouts and the NBA Combine this summer and fall leading up to the draft.
"I am very thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point," Riller said. "I am blessed beyond words and ready to get to work with the Hornets."
Riller closed out his illustrious career for the Cougars ranked second all-time in career scoring with 2,474 points, which ranks third-most in conference history behind former NBA All-Star David Robinson of Navy and Charles Jenkins of Hofstra.
He also left his mark in the school record books – first all-time in career 30-point games (14), eighth all-time in career steals (165) and 13th all-time in career assists (366). Riller holds the school's NCAA Division I Era single-game scoring record (43 points). In 2018, he was named Most Outstanding Player of the CAA Tournament leading the Cougars to a regular-season and conference title and NCAA Tournament berth.
During his senior campaign, he averaged a team-and league-best 21.9 points per game, which ranked No. 10 nationally, and became the first CofC player to record a triple-double in program history (20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists versus Northeastern on Jan. 16, 2020).
Riller joined Anthony Johnson, who was picked 40th overall in the second round by the Sacramento Kings in 1997, Andrew Goudelock, who was picked 46th overall in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011, and former teammate Jarrell Brantley, who was picked 50th overall in the second round by the Indiana Pacers (traded to Utah Jazz), among an elite group of NBA Draft selections from The College.
"Grant had a humble spirit and was a competitor during his time at the College of Charleston," CofC Head Coach Earl Grant said. "He worked extremely hard to put himself in this position to be successful and have a chance to have his named on NBA Draft Night. I'm every excited that his dream became a reality tonight."
CofC has now had a former player, who has been drafted or made a NBA roster, three-consecutive years. Joe Chealey, who was an undrafted free agent in 2018, was a two-way player for the Charlotte Hornets and Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. He played in four Hornets games during the 2019-20 season.
Brantley recently completed his rookie season as a two-way player for the Utah Jazz and Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. He was named to the NBA G-League All-Rookie Team, runner-up for NBA G League Rookie of the Year and was called up twice during the NBA Playoffs and regular season.
"We've had three-consecutive pros and have been fortunate to select the right guys," said Coach Grant on developing next-level players during their time at CofC. "Guys who cared about each other, cared about the program and worked extremely hard."
Wednesday night's draft also marked the first time in program history that College of Charleston had back-to-back players drafted. The Cougars were one of only 21 NCAA Division I schools next to Duke, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Kentucky, Auburn, Texas Tech, Washington, Florida State, USC, Georgia, Stanford, Maryland, Nevada, Arkansas, Villanova, Oregon, Iowa State, Mississippi State, LSU and San Diego State to have players drafted in both the 2019 and 2020 NBA Drafts.
A three-time All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team and two-time NABC All-District 10 First Team selection, Riller became just the fourth men's basketball player in program history to be drafted. He graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in sociology, before participating in individual workouts and the NBA Combine this summer and fall leading up to the draft.
"I am very thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point," Riller said. "I am blessed beyond words and ready to get to work with the Hornets."
Riller closed out his illustrious career for the Cougars ranked second all-time in career scoring with 2,474 points, which ranks third-most in conference history behind former NBA All-Star David Robinson of Navy and Charles Jenkins of Hofstra.
He also left his mark in the school record books – first all-time in career 30-point games (14), eighth all-time in career steals (165) and 13th all-time in career assists (366). Riller holds the school's NCAA Division I Era single-game scoring record (43 points). In 2018, he was named Most Outstanding Player of the CAA Tournament leading the Cougars to a regular-season and conference title and NCAA Tournament berth.
During his senior campaign, he averaged a team-and league-best 21.9 points per game, which ranked No. 10 nationally, and became the first CofC player to record a triple-double in program history (20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists versus Northeastern on Jan. 16, 2020).
Riller joined Anthony Johnson, who was picked 40th overall in the second round by the Sacramento Kings in 1997, Andrew Goudelock, who was picked 46th overall in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011, and former teammate Jarrell Brantley, who was picked 50th overall in the second round by the Indiana Pacers (traded to Utah Jazz), among an elite group of NBA Draft selections from The College.
"Grant had a humble spirit and was a competitor during his time at the College of Charleston," CofC Head Coach Earl Grant said. "He worked extremely hard to put himself in this position to be successful and have a chance to have his named on NBA Draft Night. I'm every excited that his dream became a reality tonight."
CofC has now had a former player, who has been drafted or made a NBA roster, three-consecutive years. Joe Chealey, who was an undrafted free agent in 2018, was a two-way player for the Charlotte Hornets and Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. He played in four Hornets games during the 2019-20 season.
Brantley recently completed his rookie season as a two-way player for the Utah Jazz and Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. He was named to the NBA G-League All-Rookie Team, runner-up for NBA G League Rookie of the Year and was called up twice during the NBA Playoffs and regular season.
"We've had three-consecutive pros and have been fortunate to select the right guys," said Coach Grant on developing next-level players during their time at CofC. "Guys who cared about each other, cared about the program and worked extremely hard."
Wednesday night's draft also marked the first time in program history that College of Charleston had back-to-back players drafted. The Cougars were one of only 21 NCAA Division I schools next to Duke, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Kentucky, Auburn, Texas Tech, Washington, Florida State, USC, Georgia, Stanford, Maryland, Nevada, Arkansas, Villanova, Oregon, Iowa State, Mississippi State, LSU and San Diego State to have players drafted in both the 2019 and 2020 NBA Drafts.
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