Patriots Draft Three Seven Footers
November 6, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., November 6, 2003 â Fayetteville Patriots coach Jeff Capel believes 7-foot center Jason Collier will earn what the Patriots previous two first-round picks earned â NBA roster spots. But Capel's going to try to enjoy him while he's in Fayetteville.
The Patriots selected Collier, the former University of Indiana and Georgia Tech standout, with their first overall pick (No. 6 overall) in Thursday's 2003 NBDL Draft.
"He's not going to be here long,'' Capel said. "He's just that good. We had to go out and get some big guys early. We don't have two of our big people back from last year, so we needed to fill that need immediately."
Jeff Aubry and Jameel Watkins, two 6-11 centers who filled the middle for the Patriots for two seasons, decided to play overseas this season. It left the Patriots without a presence in the middle. The Patriots attempted to make up for their absences by also selecting seven-footer Darrell Johns in the fourth round and rookie Nick Neumann, a 7-foot center out of Florida Atlantic.
Collier was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft and later had his draft rights traded to the Houston Rockets. He played with the Rockets for three seasons before being released. He was recently let go by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Collier hopes to join favorable company as a Patriots first rounder. The Patriots previous two first-round picks â Chris Andersen of the Denver Nuggets and Devin Brown of the San Antonio Spurs â both recently signed new contracts.
"We knew we were going to get Devin Brown last season because we had the No. 2 overall pick,'' Capel said. "But when you're picking at No. 6, anything can happen. We were thrilled to know Jason was still on the board when our pick came up."
The Patriots then selected another NBA veteran in the second round when they grabbed former Philadelphia 76er Sam Clancy. Clancy was a second-round pick of the Sixers in 2002. He spent last season rehabbing a knee injury.
"I saw him play this summer for the Celtics in their summer league and he was about 80 percent then,'' Capel said. "Everyone is telling me he's about 90 percent now. He looked awfully good at 80 percent, so we certainly want a Sam Clancy that's 10 percent better."
The Patriots then went for a shooter with their third selection as they took 6-5 guard Ronald Blackshear out of Marshall. Blackshear shot 40 percent from 3-point range during his two-year stay at Marshall.
The Patriots then selected Johns, who played 30 games with the Patriots during the 2001-2002 season, guard Kueth Duany, point guard Kent Williams, point guard Chudney Gray, Neumann, forward Donnell Knight and point guard Larry Reid.
The Patriots roster stands at 16 with the return of Omar Cook, Bryan Lucas and Junie Sanders and free agent tryout addition Malcolm Fields. Fields was selected from 115 players who tried out for the Patriots training camp at Pinecrest High School in October.
Patriots training camp starts Nov. 7 at the Crown Arena. The Patriots then travel to face the Michigan Wolverines on Nov. 14, and will open their third season on Nov. 22 against the Roanoke Dazzle at the Crown Coliseum. Tickets are on sale at the Crown Coliseum box office.
NBA G League Stories from November 6, 2003
- Dazzle Select Asselin in First Round of NBDL Draft - Roanoke Dazzle
- Flight Takes Ohio State Center Ken Johnson with First Pick - Huntsville Flight
- Patriots Draft Three Seven Footers - Fayetteville Patriots
- Lowgators Select Forward Rolan Roberts with First Pick - Charleston Lowgators
- Columbus Riverdragons Announce 2003 NBDL Draft Results - Columbus Riverdragons
- Centers Picked Early in NBDL Draft - G League
- Riverdragons To "Love It Live" On Boomer 95.3 - Columbus Riverdragons
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