On the day he declared his college career was complete, A.J. Ogilvy acknowledged that a career in the NBA was anything but a sure thing.
“If that doesn’t work out for me than I’m excited to try and take my game to Europe or wherever the next opportunity comes up,” he said back on April 8.
Thursday, his best opportunity passed when he was not selected in either of the two rounds of the NBA draft. A total of 60 players, including 11 centers, were taken by 27 teams.
Ogilvy, a native of Australia, now has the options to sign a free agent deal with any team or pursue opportunities overseas.
He is one of only two players in Vanderbilt history with more than 1,000 points and 100 blocked shots in his career. The other is Will Perdue, one of the Commodores’ all-time greats who went on to an accomplished career in the NBA.
The University of Kentucky set a draft record with five players taken in the first round, led by No. 1 overall pick John Wall of the Washington Wizards. DeMarcus Cousins went to the Kings (fifth), Patrick Patterson went to the Rockets (14th), Eric Bledose went to the Thunder (18th) and Daniel Orton went to the Magic (29th).
The first Southeastern Conference player outside of Kentucky taken was guard Terrico White, who was picked in the second round (36th overall) by Detroit.