Wizards draft McGee in first round
Former Nevada forward JaVale McGee became the second highest drafted basketball player in school history Thursday when the Washington Wizards picked him 18th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Kirk Snyder remained the highest drafted Nevada player at 16th overall by the Utah Jazz in 2004.
“We’re going to miss him a great deal,” Nevada coach Mark Fox said. “We’ve lost three guys in the last two years to the NBA Draft. That’s just the way it works, though.”
Former Nevada guard Marcelus Kemp was not drafted, but may still have a future in the NBA via free agency.
McGee, originally of Flint, Mich., was a Second-Team All Western Athletic Conference selection last year at Nevada. He led the WAC in blocks per game (2.8, 14th in the nation) and grabbed 7.3 rebounds per game. He scored 14.1 points per game with the Wolf Pack last season.
McGee’s departure will leave the Wolf Pack with a size disadvantage this upcoming season. Nevada lost its four tallest players from last year: David Ellis (7-foot-1), Demarshay Johnson (6-foot-9), Matt LaGrone (6-foot-8) and McGee (7-foot).
Coach Fox said the Wolf Pack will look to play tough defense, while speeding up the game on offense.
“We have a lot of turnover, a lot of young talent coming in,” said Fox of such recruits as Luke Babbitt, who will be Nevada’s tallest player next season at 6-foot-9.
The 18th overall selection falls short of agent Roosevelt Barnes’ pre-draft expectations. Barnes, McGee’s agent, reported he was hoping McGee would go as high as ninth overall or at least as a lottery pick (teams positioned 1-14 in the draft).
“I never thought he’d go in the lottery,” Fox said. “I certainly thought he’d go in the first round, though.
“He’s going to have to make adjustments in the NBA. He still has to become a better foul shooter and get stronger.”
McGee is guaranteed $1.16 million in his first year under the league’s rookie contract scale.
McGee, 20, will enter the NBA after his sophomore season at Nevada in a draft dominated by underclassmen. The first three picks were freshman and a record 12 freshman were picked in the 60-player draft.
The Chicago Bulls selected Derrick Rose, of Memphis, first overall. The Miami Heat predictably choose Kansas State’s Michael Beasely second overall, while the Minnesota Timberwolves selected USC’s O.J. Mayo third overall—all three players were freshman in college last season.
As for Nevada’s only representative in the draft, McGee will join a team that has made the NBA playoffs four straight seasons.
McGee will compete for limited playing time behind Washington’s improving center Brendan Haywood. Haywood recorded a career high 10.6 points per game last season and grabbed 7.2 rebounds per game. He started in 80 games last year.
The Wizards may also send McGee to the NBA Development League in order to give him more playing time on a professional level.
As for Kemp, Fox isn’t too worried.
“He’s got several teams pursuing him as a free agent,” Fox said. “He’s going to be fine. He has a degree and a future as a professional basketball player.”
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on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 12:56 pm and is filed under Breaking News, Men's Basketball, Sports.
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