Patriots Go Big...at Guard
October 31, 2002 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., October 31, 2002 â Coach Jeff Capel saw the need to go big in the second annual NBDL Draft. So he did. With the Patriots first three picks, Capel took three big guards, starting with 6-foot-5 shooting guard Devin Brown out of Texas-San Antonio with the Patriots first pick (second overall in the draft).
He then took 6-6 point guard Raymond Dalmau out of Puerto Rico and 6-7 swingman Bryan Lucas from North Texas respectively.
"That is where we had our biggest need,'' said Capel, who is entering his first full season as the Patriots head coach. "We think we have two great guards in Terrell McIntyre and Omar Cook, but they're smaller guards. We wanted to be able to have some size at that position. I really like our first three picks. Those are guys we really wanted and needed."
Brown finished his career at Texas-San Antonio as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1, 922 points. He is the school's third all-time leading rebounder with 751 boards. Brown played in 105 games, starting 100 of them. He was first-team All-Southland Conference selection his sophomore, junior, and senior years.
Dalmau, whose twin brother Christian was taken in the third round by Mobile, can play both the point guard and shooting guard positions. He is from Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
Dalmau is a long-time member of Puerto Rican national team. He has played professionally in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Italy. Helped Puerto capture the Central American Championship in 2001. He is known as a physical point guard who combines good passing and penetration skills with excellent defensive play. Is the son of Raymond Dalmau, a legend in Puerto Rican basketball history as a player and coach. Dalmau participated in summer camp with the Indiana Pacers in 1997.
Lucas played his final two seasons of collegiate ball at North Texas, after playing his first two years at Azusa Pacific, an NAIA school located in Azusa, CA. Sat out 1998-99 season at North Texas under NCAA transfer rules. He is a two-sport star who played basketball and football at both Azusa Pacific and North Texas.
"We were prepared,'' Capel said. "We didn't want to go in and just call out names. We had some targets in mind, and for the most part we hit those targets."
With their 10th round pick, the Patriots selected Bayonne Taty, a 6-10 center who finished the season with the team. Capel's final pick was Matt Barnes, the former UCLA star forward. Former Patriots Tai Crutchfield and Antwain Smith found new homes on Thursday. Crutchfield was 11th round pick of Mobile and Smith went to North Charleston in the 12th round.
The Patriots open training camp on Nov. 3 at the Crown Arena. Sunday is a closed practice session. Monday morning, the Patriots have an open practice at 8. The Patriots open their season 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 at the Crown Coliseum against the Asheville Altitude. For more information about tickets call 910-213-1012.
In its first season the NBDL, the NBA's own minor league, had more players called up to the NBA than any professional basketball minor league. After just one season of operation, 22 NBDL players were in NBA vet camps when the preseason opened earlier this month.
NBA G League Stories from October 31, 2002
- North Charleston Lowgators Make Draft Selections - Charleston Lowgators
- Patriots Go Big...at Guard - Fayetteville Patriots
- Riverdragons Get Bigger, Stronger in 2002 NBDL Draft - Columbus Riverdragons
- NBDL Completes 2002 Draft - G League
- 2002 NBDL Draft Gives Greenville Groove A Talented Training Camp Roster - Greenville Groove
- Columbus State University to Host NBDL Preseason Game - Columbus Riverdragons
- Lowgators Host Draft Party Tonight at Sportz Cafe - Charleston Lowgators
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