Former Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 20th pick of the NBA draft Thursday night. His selection secured his spot in the NBA after a dramatic rise up draft boards following his declaration for the draft at the end of his sophomore season.

» Josh Okogie: 'Best moment of my life, by far'

Okogie, who became the 19th player to be selected in the first round, was thought to be a possible second-round draft pick when he decided to test the draft waters. However, he elevated himself into the first round with a strong performance at the draft combine in May.

Okogie celebrated his entry into professional basketball at a Midtown club, surrounded by family, friends and teammates.

Okogie became the 19th Yellow Jackets player taken in the first round of the NBA draft. The most recent year for that to happen was 2011, when Iman Shumpert was drafted 17th by the New York Knicks.

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Protestors demonstrate against the war in Gaza and the detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil at Emory University in Atlanta on March 20, 2025. The 30-year-old legal U.S. resident was detained by federal immigration agents in March. An Atlanta-based law firm has filed a lawsuit against the federal government arguing it illegally terminated the immigration records of five international students and two alumni from Georgia colleges, including one from Emory University. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

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