When building a championship contender, few methods have been as fruitful for the Boston Celtics as the NBA draft. From franchise legends to key role players, the draft has been the primary pipeline for talent flowing into this storied franchise. While blue-blood programs often grab the headlines, the Celtics have also found value in prospects from a wide range of schools, including the Drake Bulldogs.

Let's dive into the history books and spotlight every player drafted by the Celtics out of Drake University. This niche piece of Celtics lore highlights the franchise's broad scouting reach throughout the decades.

The first Bulldog to hear his name called by Boston was center Jim Reardon in the 1969 NBA Draft. Selected in the sixth round (80th overall), Reardon's path to the league came during an era with far more rounds, making every pick a long-shot gamble.

A decade later, in the 1979 Draft, the Celtics returned to Drake to select forward Lewis Lloyd in the third round (53rd overall). Lloyd, known as "Black Magic" for his athletic scoring prowess, would go on to have a more notable NBA career elsewhere, but his selection remains part of the connective draft tissue between Boston and the Des Moines-based program.

While the list from Drake is short, it reflects the Celtics' exhaustive approach to talent evaluation, leaving no stone unturned in their perpetual quest to build a winner.