Patriots ready to select 2003-2004 squad
Published on November 4, 2003 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., November 4, 2003 â The Fayetteville Patriots have knack for selecting future NBA players in the first round of the NBDL Draft. They will attempt to keep the perfection going during the NBDL 2003 Draft on Thursday.
The National Basketball Development League will hold its annual draft via teleconference at 7 p.m.
Fayetteville Patriots season-ticket holders, group leaders and media can listen to the draft at the Crown Coliseum Hospitality Rooms. Loud speakers will be placed so fans can listen to all 10 rounds. Media members can request a separate room to listen to the draft.
The draft will open with an address from NBDL president Phil Evans, NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson and NBA commissioner David Stern. During each of the first three rounds, Marty Blake, the NBA director of scouting, and Ryan Blake NBA assistant director of scouting, will supply commentary on each pick.
Teams will have three minutes to make their pick in each round. The following is the 2003 NBDL Draft order:
1. Huntsville Flight
2. Columbus Riverdragons
3. Asheville Altitude
4. Roanoke Dazzle
5. Charleston Lowgators
6. Fayetteville Patriots
In each of the Patriots first two drafts, they selected players in the first round who are currently on NBA rosters. Current Denver Nuggets forward Chris Andersen was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NBDL Draft, and San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Brown was the No. 2 overall pick in 2002.
The Patriots have the sixth pick in each round. Patriots coach Jeff Capel and assistant Sam Worthen will try to assemble a team that can repeat as NBDL Regular-Season Champions. They're also looking to provide Fayetteville with NBA-caliber players like Andersen and Brown.
"We're looking for quality people who fit into our style play,'' Capel said. "We're going to spend many hours in my office to make sure we're putting the best players on the floor. That hopefully means players who are could enough to get a call up."
Patriots selections will not have long to celebrate after being picked, training camp starts Saturday. CIAA Player of the Year Patrick Pope and Fayetteville native Greg Stevenson have already been invited to training camp as allocated players.
NBA G League Stories from November 4, 2003
- NBA Veteran Miller Signs With Wizards - Dakota Wizards
- Three Patriots Plan Return to Camp - Fayetteville Patriots
- Patriots ready to select 2003-2004 squad - Fayetteville Patriots
- Flight Returns Four Players - Huntsville Flight
- Four Top Players Return from Last Season - Roanoke Dazzle
- Boswell Named Lowgators President - Charleston Lowgators
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