Sports

NBA Draft: Bradley Beal's Big Day

The former Chaminade College Prep star turns 19 today and will learn where his pro basketball career will begin with tonight's draft.

A new chapter in Bradley Beal's basketball career launches Thursday night, sometime not long after 6 p.m. when the 2012 NBA Draft officially gets underway in Newark, New Jersey.

The worst-kept secret in the league is that Anthony Davis will go number one overall to the New Orleans Hornets. But Beal, the former standout, could equal legend Steve Stipanovich as being the ony other St. Louis prep star to be selected as high as number 2 overall.

Beal's High School Head Coach, Kelvin Lee, will be alongside the family for the festivities.

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Or not, depending on the impact of trades, including one by the Charlotte Bobcats, who have the second pick, in which they acquired shooting guard Ben Gordon from the Detroit Pistons. Conventional wisdom would suggest that short-circuits the need to take another guard.

David Aldridge poked some fun at the notion that anyone can truly predict what will happen, given the poker-like nature of pre-draft hype and tomfoolery.

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On Wednesday, a report emerged detailing the interest the Oklahoma City Thunder, the league's Western Conference champion, has allegedly had in Beal. The team would have to move up considerably to get a chance at adding the sharpshooter from the University of Florida to the ranks of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Barring any trade, according to an NBA.com Consensus of Mock Drafts, the most likely scenario has Beal going to the Washington Wizards, who have the third overall selection.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that wherever Bradley Beal goes, his older brothers will follow along to help guide the young man. 

The NBA Draft will be televised by ESPN, starting at 6 p.m.


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