Knicks select Kevin McCullar Jr., Ariel Hukporti in second round of 2024 NBA Draft

With the 56th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Knicks selected Kansas forward Kevin McCullar Jr. on Thursday.

New York received the pick from the Phoenix Suns who acquired the pick in a trade with the Denver Nuggets.

McCullar Jr. played in 26 games for the Jayhawks during the 2023-24 season and averaged a career-high in points (18.3) and assists (4.1), while also grabbing 6.0 rebounds per game. He shot 45 percent shooting from the field.

The 23-year-old began his career at Texas Tech where he played for three seasons, averaging 8.7 points in 78 games, before transferring to Kansas for his final two seasons.

As a Jayhawk, the 6-foot-6, 205-pounder found his stride and averaged 14 points in 32.2 minutes per game, starting in 59 of the 60 games he played.

Two picks later, the Knicks selected Ariel Hukporti out of Germany at selection No. 58 — the last pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.

New York received that pick after trading the No. 51 selection, which they got from the Washington Wizards in a trade in the first round, to the Dallas Mavericks.

Hukporti, 22, is a 6-foot-11, 246-pound center that played in Australia’s NBL.

In 28 games during the 2023-24 season, Hukporti averaged 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.