Brad Stevens explains savage Kelvin Sampson trait that made Celtics draft Cenac

Despite speculation that the Boston Celtics might trade out of the first round of Tuesday's draft, they held firm. They utilized the No. 27 pick to select Chris Cenac Jr. When you come on the clock that late in the night, it makes sense to roll the dice on a high-upside gamble. But there were other prospects available who fit that description.

It wasn't just Cenac's physical and athletic gifts or his pedigree as a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 7 overall recruit in his class that compelled Boston to bet on him.

The 19-year-old from New Orleans took his talents to Houston to play for head coach Kelvin Sampson. The Cougars' bench boss runs a demanding, hard-nosed program. How Cenac responded to that spoke volumes to Brad Stevens.

"He's got a lot to learn. He's got a long way to go. He's got a lot of room to grow," said Stevens shortly after selecting the Houston big. "But when you're that age, and you were that ballyhooed coming out of high school, and then you go, and you play for Coach Sampson, and he does not let you off the hook for one mistake over the course of a full year, right?

"And in everything that we've learned about Chris, and everything that coach has told me, is that he was pretty hard on him, and he was on him, and all he did was come to work, and I think that that's that's a really impressive quality for a young guy. When I watched him play live several times this year, I never walked out of the -- he didn't always play well, but I never walked out of the gym thinking he didn't play hard, and he didn't really, really, really go after it. And so I think that's a good place to start."

What to know about Chris Cenac Jr.

The one-and-done prospect comes to Boston is raw. However, along with the motor and response to hard coaching that compelled Boston to draft him, he brings an infusion of size and athleticism up front. At the NBA Draft Combine, he measured 6'10.25" barefoot. He also has a pterodactyl-like 7'5" wingspan and a 9'0.5" standing reach.

Cenac has impressive mobility for his size. He keeps teams off the glass and averaged 2.2 offensive rebounds in his lone campaign with the Cougars. He spent a lot of time on the perimeter in Houston. Boston's new big man can space the floor. He found an ideal landing spot to help cultivate his potential from beyond the arc.

The former five-star recruit is also comfortable with the ball in his hands. Between dribble handoffs and what he represents as a lob threat, he could grow into an excellent pick-and-roll partner. His touch and precision as a passer, specifically when delivering the ball to a cutting teammate, add to that.

Defensively, Cenac has the potential to be an outstanding weak-side rim protector. His combination of length and athleticism allows him to cover a lot of ground and thwart opponents who get to the cup.

Again, he's raw. If it were all superlatives, he'd have gone much higher than pick No. 27. The Louisiana native needs to develop his feel for the game. If he can read and react faster, then Cenac can take advantage of his physical and athletic gifts. That will also help keep him out of foul trouble, an issue he dealt with at Houston.

The Celtics will preach patience about this pick. He could defy expectations, but odds are, most of Cenac's growth during his rookie year will occur behind the scenes. Luckily, he's joining an elite infrastructure and player development program. His motor and how he took to Kelvin Sampson's coaching bodes well for both sides getting the most out of this partnership.

Boston was smart to bet on itself and the person it drafted 27th overall. Now it's Cenac's turn to capitalize on the opportunity in front of him.

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