BYU Basketball: The Top 10 Cougars in NBA Draft history

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 23: Jimmer Fredette from BYU greets NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was selected #10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round during the 2011 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 23, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 04: A basketball flies through the hoop during the round eight NBL match between Melbourne United and the Illawarra Hawks at Hisense Arena on December 4, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) /

5. Craig Raymond

Craig Raymond was an anchor for BYU’s 1966 NIT Championship team, along with Dick Nemelka and Jeff Congdon, two other NBA draftees.

A 6’11 center, Raymond became the tallest player to ever play for BYU up to that point. He started his Cougar career primarily as a defender and rebounder, but exploded for 21 points in the NIT Championship game, showing that he could become a primary scorer.

In 1966-67, following the graduation of Nemelka and Congdon, he became BYU’s leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points and earning Second Team All-WAC honors.

The Philadelphia 76ers took notice, selecting Raymond with the No. 12 pick in the 1967 draft.

He only played one year in Philly before switching over to the ABA for four more years. In that league, he played for the:

Pittsburgh Pipers
Los Angeles Stars
Memphis Pros
The Floridians
San Diego Conquistadors
Indiana Pacers

Over his entire five-year professional career, Raymond averaged 6.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game.

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