ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Mention Caris LeVert to Taco Charlton and his face lights up. Caris was Taco's good buddy even before they entered kindergarten. They traveled the same paths while growing up in Pickerington, Ohio, becoming star athletes, and moving onto the University of Michigan one year apart.
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They have reveled in the success of one another, and also shared unbelievable grief.
When the Brooklyn Nets traded with the Indiana Pacers for the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft and selected LeVert with it, Charlton was thrilled for his former basketball teammate at Pickerington Central.