National Basketball Association

Pacers take Leonard at No. 15

Published Jun. 23, 2011 10:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Indiana Pacers have selected San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard with the 15th pick in the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds last season. He was a second-team All-American who helped the Aztecs win a school-record 34 games.

Pacers president Larry Bird had talked about with scoring guards heading into the draft, saying he was impressed with BYU's Jimmer Fredette and Providence's Marshon Brooks. Fredette was gone, but Brooks was available at No. 15. Bird said earlier this week he expected his first-round pick to play immediately.

Leonard will join a team on the rise. The Pacers made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2006.

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cliffbruntap