Marcus Bryant
06-27-2008, 12:33 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062708_SpursDraft1.en.41868cc5.html
Spurs draft little-known guard
Web Posted: 06/26/2008 10:32 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
[email protected]
San Antonio Express-News
Once again, the Spurs appear to have thrown the NBA media relations department for a loop on draft day.
At around 9:15 on Thursday night, the Spurs made George Hill, a guard from IUPUI, the 26th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. By 9:16, reporters waiting out the draft at the team’s headquarters were scrambling through the predraft guide of prospects provided by the league for information about the Spurs’ newest draftee.
Hill’s name wasn’t there.
The same phenomenon occurred in 2005, when the Spurs took another little-known prospect, Ian Mahinmi, out of France.
Unknown in the hallways of NBA headquarters, Hill apparently was well known enough in the Spurs’ front office to make him the team’s top pick.
He is the first player in the history of IUPUI – full name Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis – to be selected in the NBA draft.
An athletic 6-foot-2 with NBA shooting range, the 22-year-old Hill averaged 21.5 points per game last season, earning Player of the Year honors in the Summit League.
He should afford the Spurs depth and quickness on the wing, and could be groomed as a backup point guard.
The Spurs also owned two picks in the second round. They spent the first of them – No. 45 overall – was Goran Dragic a 6-foot-4 guard from Slovenia who is currently under contract in the Slovenian League.
As of press time, the Spurs had not made their final pick of the night, the 57th overall.
Spurs draft little-known guard
Web Posted: 06/26/2008 10:32 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
[email protected]
San Antonio Express-News
Once again, the Spurs appear to have thrown the NBA media relations department for a loop on draft day.
At around 9:15 on Thursday night, the Spurs made George Hill, a guard from IUPUI, the 26th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. By 9:16, reporters waiting out the draft at the team’s headquarters were scrambling through the predraft guide of prospects provided by the league for information about the Spurs’ newest draftee.
Hill’s name wasn’t there.
The same phenomenon occurred in 2005, when the Spurs took another little-known prospect, Ian Mahinmi, out of France.
Unknown in the hallways of NBA headquarters, Hill apparently was well known enough in the Spurs’ front office to make him the team’s top pick.
He is the first player in the history of IUPUI – full name Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis – to be selected in the NBA draft.
An athletic 6-foot-2 with NBA shooting range, the 22-year-old Hill averaged 21.5 points per game last season, earning Player of the Year honors in the Summit League.
He should afford the Spurs depth and quickness on the wing, and could be groomed as a backup point guard.
The Spurs also owned two picks in the second round. They spent the first of them – No. 45 overall – was Goran Dragic a 6-foot-4 guard from Slovenia who is currently under contract in the Slovenian League.
As of press time, the Spurs had not made their final pick of the night, the 57th overall.