With the 40th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets stuck to Carolina roots by selecting Nebraska guard Bryce McGowens, a native of Pendleton, South Carolina.
In just one year at Nebraska, McGowens led the Cornhuskers in scoring averaging 16.8 points per game, good enough for the 9th-highest total in the Big Ten Conference.
Many around the league felt that there was a shot that McGowens could sneak into the back half of the first round, including our own James Plowright, who believes McGowens is a home run pick for the Hornets.
Fortunately for the Hornets, McGowens slipped into the second round and as he continued to slide, Charlotte felt the need to make a trade to go up and get him.