Arlington Native Selected in 2015 NBA Draft

Arlington native and two-sport athlete at University of Notre Dame, Pat Connaughton, was selected in the 2015 National Basketball Association Draft last night.

Connaughton was selected by the Brooklyn Nets in the second round, with the 41st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, held in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the same arena in which the Nets play. However, shortly after being selected by the Nets, the draft rights to Connaughton and Nets’ center Mason Plumlee were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for point guard Steve Blake and the draft rights to first-round pick and and Arizona Wildcats alumnus Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, according to ESPN.

The Arlington native averaged 10.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during his four year career with the Notre Dame men’s basketball team, according to NBA.com. He was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Third Team in 2015.

Connaughton was a two-sport athlete at Notre Dame, playing for both Fighting Irish baseball and basketball teams. Connaughton was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft, as well, according to CBS Sports.

Connaughton attended high school at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers.