NBA Draft 2019: Cleveland Cavaliers take Dylan Windler with 26th pick

It has been 47 years since a Belmont player has been selected in the NBA Draft, but the Bruins’ Dylan Windler stopped that lengthy drought on Thursday after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 26th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Going into the night, Windler was one of the handful of upperclassmen whose name was making waves in NBA Draft conversations. A four-year player for Belmont, Windler developed quickly at the school, coming into his own in his final two seasons with the Bruins. By that point a star, he posted 17.3 and 21.3 points per game in his junior and senior seasons, respectively, leading his team to an at-large bid and victory over the Temple Owls in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

Windler’s lethality on the court comes from his combination of agility, athleticism, and size, which enables him to be both a skilled ball handler as well as an effective post player. In addition, he has a marvelous shooting touch, which—when combined with his other attributes—allows him to score in bunches.

His 35-point performance against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament tells exactly that tale:

With perhaps a bit more muscle, Windler could become a pretty skilled professional player. Even still, he has what it takes to impress and progress, and he is no doubt a solid addition to the Cavs’ roster.