EL SEGUNDO, CA - The Los Angeles D-Fenders selected Jasper Johnson with the 13th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Development League Draft.
Johnson, a 6-8 forward, averaged 20.6 points and 8.2 rebounds as a senior (2005-06) at Delta State where he earned First Team All-Conference and NCAA Division II All-American honors and was named GSC-West Player of the Year. He finished his collegiate career at Delta State after playing his first three seasons at Southern Mississippi. Johnson spent the last two years playing professionally in Argentina and Brazil.
"We are anxious to get a look at him (Johnson);" said D-Fenders Head Coach Dan Panaggio. "He is supposed to be a scorer and he is supposed to be in tip-top shape right now. He played at a Division II school that was very successful and has been overseas. We are just really anxious to get started."
Rounding out the D-Fenders 2008 draft selections include Keith Butler (DePaul), Dominique Scales (East Central), Curtis Terry (UNLV), Jamaal Brown (Cal State - Fullerton), Terrance Whiters (Loyola (Illinois)), Kenny Barnes (), Brandon Worthy (Loyola Marymount), Seth Robinson (Boise State) and John White (Eastern Kentucky).
The 2008 D-Fenders draft class will join Joe Crawford, Brandon Heath, Darren Cooper, Patrick Sanders, Johnny Dukes, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Rashid Byrd at the D-Fenders training camp.
D-Fenders 2008 Draft Selections:
Jasper Johnson
Keith Butler
Dominique Scales
Curtis Terry
Jamaal Brown
Terrance Whiters
Kenny Barnes
Brandon Worthy
Seth Robinson
John White
The D-Fenders tip off their third season in the NBA D-League on Friday, November 28 at 3:30 p.m. when they host the Bakersfield Jam at STAPLES Center. Having a game ticket for a Lakers home game also gives fans the opportunity to attend the D-Fenders game that same day at STAPLES Center.
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