:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46616570/usa-today-8399059.0.jpg)
Joseph Young took the first step in his professional career on Thursday night at the 2015 NBA Draft as the Indiana Pacers selected the Oregon guard with the 43rd overall pick.
Young had been projected as high as a late first-rounder, but most mock drafts had him going somewhere in the middle of the second round to Cleveland or Utah. In the later stages of the first round, ESPN had Young as one of the best knockdown shooters available, but it's likely that Young's size (or lack thereof) hurt his draft stock.
Young is the first Duck selected since Arsalan Kazemi in 2013, and just the fifth Oregon player drafted since 2007.
Young spent two seasons at Oregon after transferring from Houston, scoring the most points in a two-year stretch in school history while leading the Ducks to NCAA Tournament appearances in both of his seasons in Eugene.
With the 43rd pick in the 2015 #NBADraft, the Pacers select Joseph Young. pic.twitter.com/27nNuzsTqU
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2015
Yay!! Congrats to @JoeyBuckets3 !! Well deserved
— Lexi Petersen (@lexip33) June 26, 2015
Love Joe Young to the Pacers. One of the best pure scorers to the draft.
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 26, 2015
Congratulations to @JoeyBuckets3, the newest member of the @Pacers! #NBADraft #ProDucks pic.twitter.com/OJFDJvfm1g
— Autzen Students (@AutzenStudents) June 26, 2015
#GoDucks #ProDucks "@OregonMBB: pic.twitter.com/voX2xbUbyx"
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) June 26, 2015