By Sam Perley, hornets.com

There are a lot of expectations that come with being a top 10 pick in the NBA Draft, something Frank Kaminsky understands firsthand after being taken ninth overall by the Hornets in 2015. The pressure can rise a bit more when you’ve garnered high accolades over your collegiate career, such as the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, first-team All-America honors and multiple Final Four appearances, all of which reside in Kaminsky’s trophy case. Now in his second season, the Hornets big man has experienced a sharp rise in play, comfort and overall confidence so far in the 2016-17 NBA campaign.

Born and raised in a suburb just outside of Chicago, Kaminsky grew up during a golden era of hoops in the city with Michael Jordan leading the Bulls to six NBA championships during the 1990s. Kaminsky’s aunt and uncle both worked for the organization at the time, allowing young Frank exclusive access to the hallowed ground of the United Center.

In 2011, Kaminsky ventured north to the University of Wisconsin to begin his collegiate career, where he put up modest numbers during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Minutes eventually opened up for Kaminsky in his third year at Wisconsin as he became a key contributor on the Badgers’ first Final Four team since 2000, although they lost in the semifinals to the University of Kentucky.

Kaminsky returned for his senior year in 2014, leading the team in scoring (18.8 points) and rebounding (8.2) while helping Wisconsin tally consecutive Final Four berths for the first time in school history. The Badgers made it a step further this time, but fell to Duke in the school’s first appearance in the national championship game since 1941. After leading Wisconsin to the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships, Kaminsky was the Consensus National Player of the Year, receiving honors that included the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy and AP National Player of the Year.

Following his decorated college career, the Hornets tabbed Kaminsky as their first-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, a selection that was largely supported by the team’s chairman and Kaminsky’s childhood idol Jordan. He posted averages of 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a rookie, while playing in a team-high-tying 81 games. Kaminsky was one of just two rookies in the NBA to total at least 600 points, 300 rebounds and 50 three-pointers last season.

During their second playoff appearance in three years, the Hornets lost the first two games of their first-round series against the Miami Heat and opted to move Kaminsky into the Game 3 starting lineup in place of an injured Nicolas Batum. Although he had struggled in the first two games of the series, Kaminsky exploded with 15 points and six rebounds in Charlotte’s 96-80 Game 3 victory, its first playoff win since 2002.

On the court, Kaminsky is as focused and committed to winning as they come. Off the court, he is easily one of the most colorful characters on the Hornets roster. He is quite active on social media, touching on topics ranging from his alma mater, the World Series, Skittles, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, sweet tea, fantasy football and more. Last season, he challenged fellow seven-footer Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks to a dance-off on Twitter. He also recently started a petition in the Hornets locker room to convince Cody Zeller to upgrade his car after Zeller signed a contract extension.

All kidding aside though, Zeller has been impressed with Kaminsky’s transition to the NBA after the two faced each other a handful of times during their collegiate playing days in the Big Ten.

“Frank has made a huge jump in the last year or two,” said Zeller. “He came in as more of a range shooter but now he can do a little bit of everything. He’s posting up a lot, taking [opponents] off the dribble [and] he’s really scoring at every aspect of the game. His defense is coming along as well. He’s been huge for us.”

“Each and every day he comes out he just seems more comfortable with everything,” added Marvin Williams. “After that rookie year, [which] I think was pretty good personally, he definitely wants to make improvements and I think he is doing that. I just think he looks much more comfortable out there.”

A seven-footer who can contribute effectively from multiple spots on the floor, Kaminsky’s on-court eccentricities seem to have ironically mirrored his off-court personality over the course of his basketball career. With the third-year option on his rookie contract recently picked up by the team, Hornets fans can expect to see the always-entertaining Frank Kaminsky as a key part of the organization’s plans for the foreseeable future.