SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento Kings have selected Kansas forward Thomas Robinson with the fifth pick in the NBA draft.

Robinson was considered perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the draft Thursday and the Kings need plenty of immediate help after missing the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

Robinson left Kansas after leading the Jayhawks to the national title game his junior season. He was the first unanimous AP All-American since 2009 and won the Big 12 player of the year award as well.

Robinson averaged 17.7 points and was second in the nation with 11.9 rebounds per game and is a strong defensive presence at power forward.

The Trail Blazers traded the 41st overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, Tyshawn Taylor out of Kansas, to the Nets for cash considerations.

Taylor averaged 16.6 points and 4.8 assists per game as a senior last season for the Jayhawks, who went to the NCAA championship game but fell to Kentucky.

The 6-foot-3 guard is a native of Hoboken, N.J., and a product of St. Anthony High School in Jersey City.

– Associated Press –