"As expected, the Big 12 had a solid showing in the NBA Draft on Thursday night.

Six players were selected in the first round, headlined by University of Texas forward Tristan Thompson going fourth overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Last year, the Big 12 had seven players drafted in the first round.

But the story of the night regarding the Big 12 was Texas and its school-record three players selected in the first round.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Thompson wasn't expected to go as high as he did, but certainly projects to be an inside threat in the NBA. In 36 games, including 34 starts, with the Longhorns last season, he led the team in rebounding (7.8 per game), blocks (86) and double doubles (10).

Thompson had one of his more memorable games in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and seven blocks in carrying Texas to an 85-81 victory over Oakland. The biggest concern with Thompson is free throw shooting after he shot 48.7 percent from the line.

Still, Thompson is the third-highest draft pick in school history, behind LaMarcus Aldridge, the No. 2 pick in 2006, and Kevin Durant, the No. 2 pick in 2007. His selection represents the highest a Canadian has gone in the draft.

Texas had two more players drafted later in the first round. Wing Jordan Hamilton, who left after his sophomore season, fell to 26th in the draft. The Dallas Mavericks selected him and traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers, who reportedly were sending him to the Denver Nuggets."