Ugonna Onyenso selected 53rd overall by the Detroit Pistons
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 25, 2026, 2:13 AM
Last updated Jun 25, 2026
Ugonna Onyenso was drafted 53rd overall by the Detroit Pistons during the 2026 NBA Draft on June 25. Initially picked by the Houston Rockets, he was traded to the Pistons following trades with the New York Knicks. Onyenso, a 6-foot-11 center from UVA, averaged career-best statistics in his senior year, including 6.5 points and 2.9 blocks per game. His standout performance in the ACC Tournament, where he set a record with 21 blocked shots, helped elevate his draft stock. He will seek a spot on the Pistons' roster during the Summer League in early July.
- •Onyenso averaged 6.5 points and 2.9 blocks in his senior season.
- •He is recognized for his elite shot-blocking abilities.
- •The Pistons acquired him through trades involving the Rockets and Knicks.
- •Onyenso aims to earn minutes in the NBA Summer League.
- •He becomes the first UVA player drafted since Ryan Dunn in 2024.
- 2:13 AMYahoo Sports — UVA basketball’s Ugonna Onyenso lands with the Detroit Pistons after being drafted 53rd overall
"The Virginia big man will bring his shot-blocking prowess to the NBA.
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