Strike 3: A year ago, Tad Boyle’s Colorado Buffaloes were about to slide into the national spotlight on NBA Draft night. Three former Buffs – Cody Williams (a lottery pick at No. 10 to Utah) Tristan Da Silva (No. 18 to Orlando) and K J Simpson (No. 42 to Charlotte) all had their names called. That matched the output of hoops blue blood Kentucky, and only national champion UConn had more (two firsts and two seconds.)
Meanwhile, Colorado State standout Isaiah Stevens went undrafted before signing a free agent deal with the Miami Heat.
This year, the tables have turned ever so slightly. Boyle’s Buffs had an inevitable let down season following the departure of all but one of their regulars from the season before, while CSU, largely on the back of former Buff turned Ram Nique Clifford had a strong season that culminated in a first-round win over Memphis in the NCAA tournament, before a last second loss to Big Ten power Maryland in Round 2.
This year, the only name fans of either program will hear called on draft night is Clifford. And his name might be called fairly early.
Clifford is a product of the Vanguard School in Colorado Springs, and after signing with Boyle and the Buffs out of high school, he started 50 games for CU, but never found his niche.
“I just wasn’t able to be my full self at CU,” Clifford told Mile High Sports Magazine back in 2024. “It was good for me to learn to be mentally tough, and learn how to adapt into a role, and be successful in that role, but I also wanted to be able to showcase more of my game. That’s ultimately why I made the move, and it’s paid off.”
In his final season at CSU, Clifford averaged just under 19 points per game to go with almost 10 rebounds. He was first-team All-Mountain West and was the Most Valuable Player in the MW conference tournament when CSU locked up a NCAA bid by beating Boise State in the final game.
A great year for the 23-year old, one that certainly caught the attention of NBA scouts who may have been overlooking him earlier in his college career.
Mock drafts are just that, mock. But over the years, those doing the mocking have become pretty adept with their prognostications, and if they’re right, Clifford will be a mid-first round selection.
Most mocks don’t have the versatile wing going in the top 14 lottery picks, but rather shortly thereafter. CBS Sports says No. 16 to Orlando. NBADraft.net does have him going No. 12 to Chicago, so there’s that. In any event, it looks like the former Buff and Ram will land with a playoff contender and get the chance to return to postseason play for a third straight season.
At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Clifford profiles as a wing. He’s already a guy who can slash to the basket, and is an outstanding rebounder for someone who operates outside of the paint for the most part, racking up 15 double doubles for CSU this past season. If there was a question about his game before the year began, it was his outside/3-point shooting, and while that improved a lot from the previous season, even more consistency from behind the arc will be a must at the next level.
Still, it’s a big leap from being a guy who wasn’t going to get drafted a year ago at this time. And now he has a chance to make two state programs proud.
