The Sacramento Kings chose University of Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox with the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Fox, who is from Houston, averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 2.4 turnovers as a freshman for the Wildcats.
He'll join fellow former Kentucky Wildcats Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissire on the Kings' roster.
Fox shot 47.8 percent from the field and 73.9 percent from the free-throw line during his lone UK season. His 24.6-percent performance from 3-point range is one area the former Cat will look to improve on at the next level.
"Just lightning speed in the open court," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said of Fox before the draft. "And he does a good job of creating for others. ... His jumper is inconsistent, but he shoots a good ball. So with some work, I think he can become a much better shooter. But his deal is transition and he's a very good on-ball defender."
Fox was the SEC Tournament's MVP after averaging 22.0 points per game en route to the title.
He was a third-team All-American selection by CBS Sports, USA Today and ESPN.
"De'Aaron's speed, length and ability to pick up defensively from 94 feet set him apart from his peers," UK coach John Calipari said when the school announced Fox was declaring for the draft. "De'Aaron came in here focused from day one, and to see his improvement from the beginning of the season to the end was special. What you saw from De'Aaron over the last month and a half of the season I think is what NBA teams will get for the future."
