BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Two Memphis Tigers were drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 24.

2022 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Jalen Duren was selected 13th overall, while teammate Josh Minott was picked 45th overall. Both players were selected by the Charlotte Hornets, but Duren's rights were subsequently traded to Detriot via the New York Knicks and Minott's rights were traded to Minnesota.

Duren, the 16th first-round pick in Memphis history and third first-round pick coached by Memphis in the draft, made an immediate impact as a freshman for the Tigers in 2021-22, leading the team in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg), blocked shots per game (2.1) and field goal percentage (.597). He started 29 games for Memphis, helping the squad return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014,. The Sharon Hill, Pa., native also earned a spot on the all-conference first team, and his 61 blocked shots on the season were third-most by a freshman in school history.
 
Minott showed considerable promise during his lone season in Memphis, as he was one of three Tigers to appear in all 33 games in 2021-22. Minott, who hails from Boca Raton, Fla., earned a place on the AAC All-Freshman Team, and he was the nation's only freshman in the last 12 seasons to have at least 30 assists, 25 steals and 20 blocked shots on the year while playing fewer than 15.0 minutes per game.