Kelly Olynyk chosen by the Boston Celtics

KAMLOOPS – Family and friends of Kamloops' own Kelly Olynyk did not have to wait long Thursday afternoon to see the 7' centre get taken in the National Basketball Association draft as he went 13th overall to the Dallas Mavericks.

Immediately after the announcement of the pick was made by the Mavericks the team announced they had traded Olynyk to the Boston Celtics for two second round picks.

Olynyk accumulated a number of titles and awards this year, being named All-American by several associations in addition to being named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He averaged nearly 18 points per game this past season, helping lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a 32-3 record. The team lost to Wichita State in the third round of the NCAA playoffs.

He announced in April he would be forgoing his final year of NCAA eligibility to enter the draft and has spent the last several weeks meeting with teams around the league in preparation for the draft. This week, mock drafts had Olynyk being drafted anywhere from 16th to 23rd in the first round.

Olynyk now joins the ranks of only a few other Canadians to get picked in the top-15 of any NBA Draft. Anthony Bennett of Toronto was chosen first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, making history as the highest drafted Canadian since the NBA started the draft in 1950. This was also the first time two Canadians have ever been picked in the lottery round of the draft.