Sixers select Duke’s Jared McCain at No. 16 in first round of NBA draft

The 76ers selected Jared McCain with the 16th pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. And the 6-foot-3 guard will join the team with high expectations.

“I am visualizing winning rookie of the year,” he said Tuesday at the NBA’s draft availability in New York.

The 20-year-old also correctly visualized himself as a first-round selection following an impressive one-and-done season at Duke.

» READ MORE: How an ESPN draft expert predicts the Sixers’ selection, and why Jared McCain could be a fit

“I am a big believer in manifesting and meditation and just seeing what you are going to do in the future,” he said. “To be a potential first-round pick, that’s been in my journal for a while.”

Visualizing things has helped the 2023 McDonald’s All-American elevate his game.

This past season, he shot 41.4% on three-pointers as one of the draft’s best off-ball shooters. The California native also averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals this season. He elevated his scoring production in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21 points during Duke’s run to the Elite Eight.

And he thinks his season at Duke will help him play alongside Joel Embiid, the 2023 MVP. At Duke

If there’s a concern, it’s that his athleticism doesn’t jump off the screen. That could prevent him from consistently getting open shots as a catch-and-shoot guy. He’s also prone to taking bad shots.

» READ MORE: NBA draft: Sixers pick Duke freshman Jared McCain at No. 16; Multiple teams targeting Paul George in free agency

But getting drafted was his latest visualization that became a reality.

“I am feeling grateful,” he said. “I am living my dream right now. I’m trying to take in every moment that I can.”