|
Devilishly rich
Four Duke players taken in first 14 picks of draft
Posted: Saturday July 03, 1999 10:06 PM
| |
Elton Brand (left) was part of a Duke team that tied a record for the most wins in an NCAA season. AP |
WASHINGTON (CNN/SI) -- June 30, 1999 was a bittersweet day for Mike Krzyzewski.
Duke University became the first school in the history of the NBA Draft to produce four first-round draft picks.
Sure he was sad to see four of his top five players from this years NCAA runner-up leave the nest and test the waters of the NBA. But, it had to make him feel good that Elton Brand, Trajan Langdon, Corey Maggette and William Avery all were selected in the first 14 picks of the draft held at Washington's MCI Center.
"It's a great feeling. I know Coach K is at home proud right
now," Brand said. "Even though we left early, I know he's
definitely proud."
Chicago chose the 6-foot-8 Brand as the first overall pick,
adding to the Bulls' rebuilding efforts in the post-Michael Jordan
era.
As a sophomore, Brand averaged 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds last
to lead the Blue Devils to a perfect 19-0 Atlantic Coast Conference
record and an appearance in the NCAA championship game. The Blue
Devils also tied for the most wins in an NCAA season with a 37-2
record overall.
"It's going to be a lot of pressure, especially being the No. 1
pick," said Brand, who left Duke with two years' eligibility
remaining. Brand was the first No. 1 at Duke since Art Heyman in
1963. "I've just got to face it like I've faced it at every level.
I'm going to work hard and do my best."
Langdon proved to be the surprise pick among four Blue Devils,
picked by Cleveland as the 11th pick and before Maggette and Avery.
Many draft experts believe the 6-3 shooting guard would be picked
late in the first round. Langdon didn't even attend the draft
because he didn't believe he'd be picked that high.
Langdon is one of just five players to be selected as first team
all-ACC in three different years. He scored 1,974 points while
averaging 14.5 points per games as a Blue Devil.
Krzyzewski said before the draft that the senior Langdon was the
one most ready for the pros.
"He should be a longtime NBA player," Krzyzewski said. "He's
solid. There is very little variance in his game."
Krzyzewski disagreed with the decision by underclassmen Maggette
and Avery, chosen 13th and 14th respectively, to leave early for
the NBA.
Maggette was later traded to Orlando along with Dale Ellis,
Billy Owens and Don MacLean for Horace Grant and two future No. 2
picks.
Maggette, a 6-6 freshman who came off the bench last season, was
picked by Seattle, followed by Minnesota's choice of the sophomore
Avery.
Maggette averaged 17 minutes a game, averaging 10.6 points and
nearly four rebounds a game while earning a spot on the ACC
all-rookie team. Draft scouts considered his athletic ability an
asset but said he needed to learn more about playing the pro game.
The point guard Avery, who left after his sophomore season, was
called by one NBA general manager as one of the best pure
long-distance shooters of the point guards available in the draft.
Avery was a second team all-ACC selection last season, averaged
nearly 15 points and five assists per game.
"He'll have to learn more about running a team while he uses
his skills," Krzyzewski said before the draft. "Our team was an
easier team to run. That will be his biggest thing he has to learn
while still trying to hit his shot."
Avery was not surprised by Langdon's high selection.
"He's a great player, I knew that all along," Avery said. "I
know he could have gone through some of his workouts without
missing a shot."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
| 
