Mark Pope’s inaugural NBA draftees** from Kentucky—*Koby Brea** and **Amari Williams**—and where they landed in the 2025 NBA Draft:
🎯 Koby Brea – Slick sharpshooter lands in Phoenix
* **Draft Details**: Selected **41st overall** in the second round by the Golden State Warriors, then immediately traded to the **Phoenix Suns** ([aseaofblue.com][1]).
* **College Journey**: A standout at Dayton, where he twice earned A-10 Sixth Man of the Year, led Division I in 3-point percentage (49.8%) in 2023–24, overcame leg surgery and rehab, then transferred to Kentucky. There, he averaged **11.6 PPG** and hit **43.5%** from deep ([on3.com][2]).
* **Why Phoenix Wants Him**: Known as “possibly the best shooter in the country” per coach Mark Pope, Brea offers elite shooting, perimeter spacing, and experience ([on3.com][2]). Phoenix orchestrated multiple draft-day trades—first to acquire pick 41, then again for extra second-rounders—to land Brea alongside Rasheer Fleming ([brightsideofthesun.com][3]).
* **Coach Pope’s Take**: Pope praised Brea’s resilience: recovering from a summer wheelchair stint post-surgery to become a program legend. “To see him … now make his way to the NBA has been incredible to witness” ([nkytribune.com][4]).
* **Fan Reaction**: Kentucky’s fanbase—and NBA circles—hailed the pick. Social media buzzed with admiration for his journey and shooting prowess ([aseaofblue.com][5]).
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## 🛡️ Amari Williams – Defensive center joins the Celtics
* **Draft Details**: Picked **46th overall**, initially by the Orlando Magic, then traded to the **Boston Celtics** ([aseaofblue.com][5]).
* **College Journey**: After beginning at Drexel (earning three straight CAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-CAA nods), Williams transferred to Kentucky for 2024–25. There, he averaged **10.9 PPG**, **8.5 RPG**, **3.2 APG**, posting a triple-double and breaking records for assists by a 7‑footer ([ukathletics.com][6]).
* **Why Boston Took Him**: Williams brings elite rim protection, rebounding, passing from the high post, and versatile two-way ability—traits aligned with Coach Pope’s vision. His unorthodox “point‑center” skillset earned praise: “He did it all for us” ([ukathletics.com][6]).
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## 🧩 What It Means for Mark Pope’s Kentucky Program
* **First NBA Milestone**: This marks Pope’s first draft class — and having **two players drafted in year one** is both rare and remarkable. He led Kentucky to the Sweet Sixteen and tied NCAA records for wins over Top 15 teams in just his first season ([on3.com][7]).
* **Mid‑Major to NBA Pipeline**: Both Brea and Williams originated from mid-major programs (Dayton and Drexel) before transferring—spotlighting Pope’s knack for identification and development, especially amid today’s NIL/portal era ([midmajormadness.com][8]).
* **Draft History**: With Kentucky’s streak now at 16 consecutive drafts producing multiple picks—the longest in the nation—it continues the Wildcats’ tradition of NBA-ready talent ([ukathletics.com][6]).
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## 🔎 Outlook & What’s Next
| Player | Team | Role Potential |
| —————— | ————– | ——————————————————————————— |
| **Koby Brea** | Phoenix Suns | 3‑point specialist off the bench, big‑man spacing to support Booker and co. |
| **Amari Williams** | Boston Celtics | Defensive anchor, switchable center, high‑post facilitator in a loaded frontcourt |
* **Summer League Preview**: Both are expected to feature in Summer League action—Boston’s runs July 10, Phoenix soon after ([celticsblog.com][9]).
* **Skill Synergy**: Brea’s knockout shooting meets the Suns’ need for spacing, while Williams’ defense complements the Celtics’ depth inside.
—
## 🗣️ Fan & Expert Quotes
> **“I could not be more excited… he’s an extreme competitor… super coachable.”** – Koby Brea on draft night ([en.wikipedia.org][10], [ukathletics.com][11])
>
> **“He did it all for us this season as a point‑center… I could not be prouder.”** – Pope on Amari Williams ([ukathletics.com][6])
—
### ✨ Final Word
Mark Pope’s debut draft class has immediately made an impact—**two transfers elevated mid-major talents into NBA-caliber players**, with roles suited perfectly for *Phoenix* and *Boston*. It sets an optimistic tone for the future of Kentucky under Pope: strong recruitment, top-tier player development, and readiness for the NBA stage.
* [aseaofblue.com](https://www.aseaofblue.com/2025/6/26/24456639/koby-brea-phoenix-suns-2025-nba-draft-picks-devin-booker-kentucky-wildcats-uk?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [aseaofblue.com](https://www.aseaofblue.com/2025/6/27/24456866/kentucky-wildcats-twitter-reactions-koby-brea-amari-williams-nba-draft-picks?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [midmajormadness.com](https://www.midmajormadness.com/2025/6/28/24457423/former-mid-major-stars-make-significant-impact-at-2025-nba-draft?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[1]: https://www.aseaofblue.com/2025/6/26/24456639/koby-brea-phoenix-suns-2025-nba-draft-picks-devin-booker-kentucky-wildcats-uk?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Koby Brea drafted to Suns”
[2]: https://www.on3.com/pro/news/golden-state-warriors-select-koby-brea-in-2025-nba-draft-trade-to-phoenix-suns/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Golden State Warriors select Koby Brea in 2025 NBA Draft, trade to Phoenix Suns”
[3]: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2025/6/26/24456820/phoenix-suns-2025-nba-draft-khaman-maluach-mark-williams-rasheer-fleming-koby-brea-recap?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Suns draft Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the second round of …”
[4]: https://nkytribune.com/2025/06/uk-coach-mark-pope-says-koby-breas-journey-incredible-to-witness-following-nba-draft-selection/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “UK Coach Mark Pope says Koby Brea’s Journey ‘incredible to witness’ following NBA draft selection”
[5]: https://www.aseaofblue.com/2025/6/27/24456866/kentucky-wildcats-twitter-reactions-koby-brea-amari-williams-nba-draft-picks?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Twitter reactions to Koby Brea and Amari Williams getting drafted”
[6]: https://ukathletics.com/news/2025/06/26/amari-williams-is-second-cat-to-earn-nba-draft-selection/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Amari Williams is Second Cat to Earn NBA Draft Selection”
[7]: https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/mark-pope-2025-nba-draft-koby-brea-amari-williams-kentucky/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Mark Pope’s latest \”first\” may be the most impressive — and promising — of all”
[8]: https://www.midmajormadness.com/2025/6/28/24457423/former-mid-major-stars-make-significant-impact-at-2025-nba-draft?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Former mid-major stars make a significant impact at 2025 NBA Draft”
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