Welcome to FSU, NBA Draft headquarters
Quick, name the only two teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference who have had
a player selected in each of the last three NBA drafts.
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You had Duke, right? Now be honest – did you have Florida State as the other
team?
With the selection of Alexander Johnson on Wednesday night by the Indiana
Pacers, FSU has now heard its name called on draft night in each of the last
three years. Tim Pickett (second round, 2004) and Von Wafer (second round,
2005) combine with Johnson to give the Seminoles and FSU coach Leonard
Hamilton an unlikely distinction in the basketball-rich ACC.
Johnson was a second-round pick, the 45th selection overall. He was later
traded to the Portland Trailblazers and then again to the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It goes back to Coach Hamilton's philosophy of player development and
teaching guys to reach high for their dreams," FSU associate head coach Stan
Jones said. "It's a testament to doing things the right way and for the guys
buying into what we're trying to do. We hope this transcends to more
successes for our program overall and for the individuals who are in our
program."
Johnson's selection made him the first FSU big man selected in the draft
since Doug Edwards was a first-round choice (15th overall) by the Atlanta
Hawks in 1993.
And while coaches were disappointed to see Johnson give up his final season
of eligibility to enter the draft, they will see some residuals from the
decision. Recruits, Jones said, keep an eye on the NBA draft.
"No question, recruits want to hear that you have guys in the draft," Jones
said.
Jones said he hopes the draft provides more evidence of the system in place
to develop winners at the collegiate level and professional prospects.
"That's the sign of a great program," Jones said. "When you have a college
coach in place who is developing his players and you have guys moving to the
next level. This is another big step in the development of our program."