WASHINGTON -- Duke's record-tying team of 1999 made history
one more time Wednesday night when four players from the NCAA
tournament runnerup were selected in the first round of the NBA
draft.
Elton Brand, Trajan Langdon, Corey Maggette and William Avery
were selected in the first 14 picks of the draft, the first time
four players from the same school have been selected in the first
round.
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 to
lead the Blue Devils to a 19-0 Atlantic Coast Conference record and
an appearance in the NCAA championship game. The Blue Devils also
tied a school and national record by winning 37 games.
"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. "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 was perhaps 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 guard would be picked late in
the first round.
Langdon, a three-time all-ACC selection, scored 1,974 points in
his career, a 14.5 average.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said before the draft that 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, a 6-6 freshman who came off the bench last season, was
picked by Seattle and Minnesota took the sophomore Avery.
Maggette averaged 17 minutes, 10.6 points and nearly four
rebounds a game, 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.
Avery was called by one NBA general manager one of the best pure
long-distance shooters of the point guards available in the draft.
Avery was a second team all-conference selection last season,
averaging 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."