INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Atlanta Hawks capped the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by selecting Cleveland native Omari Spellman with the 30th overall pick.
Spellman, a 6-foot-9 forward, started 39 of 40 games for Villanova, averaging 10.9 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds during his freshman season. The Big East Freshman of the Year was a key piece of Villanova's national title team, ranking second in the conference in blocks and fourth in 3-point percentage and rebounding.
Spellman began his well-traveled high school career at North Royalton, playing two seasons for the Bears, becoming a highly-regarded recruit and earning an invite to the LeBron James Skills Academy.