Malachi Richardson Keeps Syracuse's NBA First Round Draft Streak Alive

When Malachi Richardson was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 22nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft last Thursday, the Syracuse Orange's streak of having a player selected in the first round of the draft was extended to five consecutive years.

That is a streak that can be matched by only two other schools: the Kentucky Wildcats and the Duke Blue Devils.

Syracuse's third-longest active streak extends back to 2012 and includes six players selected during the five years. Here is the full list of players selected:

2012: Dion Waiters (No. 4 - Cleveland Cavaliers) and Fab Melo (No. 22 - Boston Celtics)

2013: Michael Carter-Williams (No. 11 - Philadelphia 76ers)

2014: Tyler Ennis (No.18 - Phoenix Suns)

2015: Chris McCullough (No. 29 - Brooklyn Nets)

2016: Malachi Richardson (No. 22 - Sacramento Kings)

Kentucky owns the longest active streak which goes back seven years. It's even more impressive than that for the Wildcats, who have had at least TWO players selected in the first round for each of the last seven years. Included in that are five first-rounders in 2010 and four each in 2012 and 2015. Over the course of this streak, 21 total Kentucky players have been selected in the first round. This year, Jamal Murray and Skal Labissiere were first round picks representing Big Blue Nation.

Duke has the second-longest active streak with a player selected in the first round in six consecutive drafts and seven of the last eight. This year Brandon Ingram was selected second overall to represent the Blue Devils.

The only other schools with active streaks are LSU and UNLV, both of whom currently sit at two years in a row.

Syracuse entered this year's draft with the fourth-longest active streak, but Kansas, who had been at six consecutive years, did not have a player selected in the first round this year. Arizona and UCLA also had streaks of three years each come to an end this year.

In addition to Syracuse's five year streak, the Orange have also had a player selected in the first round in eight of the last nine drafts. The 2011 draft marks the only year in which SU was absent from the first round.

Going back to the 2008 NBA Draft, Syracuse's other first round picks include Donte Greene (2008), Jonny Flynn (2009) and Wesley Johnson (2010).