Iowa State's Georges Niang, Abdel Nader drafted in second round

UPDATE: Indiana expects Niang to compete for NBA minutes; report has Nader playing for Boston's D-League affiliate 

Original Story:

AMES — After waiting late into the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Iowa State men's basketball team heard the names of two former players called with a small gap in between.

The Indiana Pacers selected Georges Niang in the second round, No. 50 overall, while Abdel Nader was drafted by the Boston Celtics at No. 58 on Thursday night. It marked the first time since 1995, when Loren Meyer and Fred Hoiberg were taken, that multiple ISU players were selected in the same draft.

Niang, a 6-foot-8 forward, is going to Indiana as he follows in the footsteps of his former coach, Hoiberg, who was drafted in the second round by the Pacers in 1995.

Extremely excited and blessed to start my new journey with the June 24, 2016

Extremely excited and blessed to start my new journey with the @Pacers #PacerNation

— Georges Niang (@GeorgesNiang20)

As the only two-time consensus All-American in Cyclones history, Niang became the 36th ISU player drafted into the NBA after averaging 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a senior.

The Pacers — with President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird — were 45-37 last year, losing in the first round of the playoffs. Nate McMillan replaced the fired Frank Vogel in the offseason.

No 1 in the NBA probably appreciates June 24, 2016

No 1 in the NBA probably appreciates @GeorgesNiang20 more then Bird! Great to see him paired up with Pacers Asst @PopeyeJones54 - #congrats

— Steve Prohm (@CoachProhm)

Nader, a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 12.9 points per game and 5.0 rebounds as a senior and shot 48.7 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range.

Can't say enough about how proud I am of this guy!! Congrats!! Keep dreaming big! Stay the Course! June 24, 2016

Can't say enough about how proud I am of this guy!! Congrats!! Keep dreaming big! Stay the Course! @AbdelNader2 pic.twitter.com/2IoYacryHi

— Steve Prohm (@CoachProhm)

Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1995, Iowa State has had 10 players selected in the NBA Draft, third most of any conference school.

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