Charles Bassey is taking his game to the next level.

Western Kentucky's standout center was selected 53rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft on Thursday night. Bassey is the first Hilltopper to be drafted since center Jeremy Evans was selected 55th overall by the Utah Jazz in 2010.

Bassey, who came to WKU as a five-star recruit in 2018 out of Aspire Academy in Louisville, Ky., played three seasons with the Hilltoppers – starting in all 72 games he appeared in and averaging 15.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks each outing. He is coming off his best season in 2020-21 after putting up 17.6 points, 11.6 boards and 3.1 blocks per game.

A 6-foot-11, 235-pound native of Lagos, Nigeria, Bassey was named both the Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after his standout season a year ago, becoming the fourth player in the league's history to win both awards in the same season.

Bassey's stellar 2020-21 campaign came just one year after he suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his left leg in a game against Arkansas on December 7, 2019. He had season-ending surgery, began rehab almost immediately after, and didn't show any signs of rust when he took the court again.

Bassey is WKU's 36th NBA Draft pick, and the third in the 2000s era – joining Evans and Courtney Lee, who was selected 22nd overall in 2008 by the Orlando Magic.

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