2017 NBA draft | Indiana's OG Anunoby picked 23rd by the Toronto Raptors

Former Indiana standout forward OG Anunoby has his future home.

The 6-foot-8 Anunoby was selected with the 23rd pick in the first round of Thursday night's NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. He was the first Indiana player off the board.

Anunoby missed 18 games this past season, including the final 15 contests after tearing the ACL in his right knee. But his improved health and strong NBA scouting combine measurements helped solidify his status as a likely first-round pick.

"Big-time athlete," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said on the draft broadcast. "When he is healthy, he is a Swiss Army knife on defense. ... Long arms, really good timing."

The Missouri native, who averaged 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds as a sophomore at IU, measured at 232 pounds with a 7-2 1/4 wingspan and a 8-11 1/2 standing reach. 

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 Anunoby's name started coming up in draft conversations after his freshman season. He started slow but put together a collection of eye-catching performances and highlights that prompted rave reviews of his athleticism and potential.

"I think (the injury) affected my draft, but everything happens for a reason," Anunoby said on ESPN.

He moved into a more prominent role on Indiana's roster as a sophomore, scoring double-digit points in 10 of his 16 appearances. He collected one double-double along the way and had four blocks against Delaware State.

Anunoby's top performance was in the season opener, an IU win against Kansas. He tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal in 36 minutes.

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The combo forward shot 56.3 percent from the field in two years at IU, including 65.2 percent on 2-pointers. He made 36.5 percent of his 3-point attempts, too, though that number dipped his sophomore season after posting a 44.8-percent clip as a freshman.

"He's still pretty raw offensively, though he can catch and shoot," Bilas said. "But what really sticks out about him is his defense. He can be one of the big-time defenders in the NBA, where he can guard just about anybody."

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His versatility is one of his top assets. At the combine in May, he told reporters that he felt like he could guard all five positions on the court.

"He has big-time bounce, physicality," ESPN's Jalen Rose said. "He had big-time performances against (North Carolina and Kansas) this season."

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