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D-Fenders Make Jelani McCoy First Round Pick

November 1, 2007 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


EL SEGUNDO, CA - The Los Angeles D-Fenders selected Jelani McCoy with the 8th overall selection in the 2007 D-League Draft, Thursday night.

McCoy, a seven year NBA Veteran has played with five teams in the NBA from 1998-99 to 2004-05, including a stint in the 2001-02 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 21 games. Selected by the Sonics in the second round (33rd pick overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft. Ranks as UCLA's all-time leader in field goal percentage (.694) and blocked shots (188). Most recently he participated in NBA training camp with the Denver Nuggets in the fall of 2007.

"(Jelani) is an experienced inside player and we didn't really have any of them, we were pretty bare," said D-Fenders Head Coach Dan Panaggio. "He gives us a center."

Rounding out the D-Fenders 2007 draft selections include NBA vet Robert Whaley (Walsh), Marcus White (Purdue), Abdoulaye N'Diaye (USC), Cecil Brown (UC Santa Barbara), Darren Cooper (Portland), Martane Freeman (Colorado), Forrest Fisher (John Brown), Ivan Jenkins (Lambuth) and Damond Williams (McNeese State).

"I think we had a really good overall draft." Panaggio said. "We were short on big guys and we were able to pick up Robert Whaley who is an NBA experienced player, as well as Jelani."

D-Fenders 2007 draft results:

Pick Name Position Height Weight College

8 Jelani McCoy F/C 6'10" 245 UCLA

21 Robert Whaley C 6'10" 265 Walsh (Ohio)

36 Marcus White F 6'8" 215 Purdue

49 Abdoulaye N'Diaye C 6'11" 220 USC

64 Cecil Brown G 6'4" 190 UC Santa Barbara

77 Darren Cooper G 6'3" 190 Portland

92 Martane Freeman F 6'7" 200 Colorado

105 Forrest Fisher G 6'4" 190 John Brown

120 Ivan Jenkins G 5'11" 160 Lambuth

133 Damond Williams F 6'6" 210 McNeese State

The D-Fenders tip off their second season in the NBA Development League on Sunday, November 25 at 2:30 p.m. when they host the Utah Flash at STAPLES Center. Having a Lakers ticket for a STAPLES Center home game is also your ticket to a lower level seat for the D-Fenders game that same day. For ticket information call (310) 426-6031.

The NBA Development League (D-League) is made up of fourteen (14) teams for the 2007-08 season. Teams include the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (NM), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield, CO), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, ND), Idaho Stampede (Boise, ID), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA), Sioux Falls Skyforce (SD) and Tulsa 66ers (OK). Expansion teams include the Utah Flash (Orem, UT), the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Hidalgo, TX), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (IN) and the Iowa Energy (Des Moines, IA).

Established to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information about the D-Fenders please visit www.d-fenders.com and for more information about the NBA Development League visit www.d-league.com.



NBA G League Stories from November 1, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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