Toronto Raptors praised for drafting Miami basketball alum Dewan Hernandez

The NBA Champion Toronto Raptors have been widely praised for drafting Miami basketball alum Dewan Hernandez. Hernandez was the penultimate selection in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Dewan Hernandez had an indirect route to getting drafted by Toronto Raptors. Hernandez sat out the entire 2018-19 Miami basketball season for his alleged involvement in the Adidas bribery scandal. Working his way up to a second round pick speaks highly of Hernandez’s work ethic.

The 6’11 center/forward began his ascension this spring at the NBA G-League combine. Hernandez was one of the best players in Chicago at the G-League combine. That earned him a spot in the NBA Combine. His performance continued to impress enough for the Raptors to select him with the 59th pick in the NBA Draft.

Hernandez has been praised throughout social media since the Raptors selected him. His journey has been difficult. Hernandez continued to work throughout the season. Many players could have pouted and lost sight of their ultimate goal. Hernandez lost his college eligibility but kept working to make the NBA.

The second round pick does not guarantee Hernandez a spot on the Raptors roster. Hernandez is the Raptors only draft pick in 2019. They traded their first-round pick to San Antonio as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade. That resulted in the Raptors winning their first NBA Championship. Hernandez’s versatility is a good fit in the evolving NBA.

Hernandez’s selection in the NBA Draft was a milestone for the Miami basketball program. It was the first time that a Miami basketball alum has been selected in the NBA Draft in three straight years. Davon Reed was a second-round pick by the Phoenix Suns in 2017. Lonnie Walker and Bruce Brown were taken in 2018.