THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Tyreke Evans, a 6-5 freshman guard from American Christian and the University of Memphis, was the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft. Evans was selected by the Sacramento Kings. Gerald Henderson (Duke and Episcopal Academy) and Wayne Ellington (North Carolina and Episcopal Academy) also were first-round selections. Henderson was taken 12th by the Charlotte Bobcats and Ellington was picked 28th by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Villanova senior Dante Cunningham was picked in the second round, at No. 33, by the Portland Trail Blazers. Cunningham, 22, is a 6-8, 230-pound small forward. He led the Final Four Wildcats in scoring (16.1), rebounding (7.5), blocks (47) and field-goal percentage (52.5).
Evans, 19, of Chester, was in Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan with his family when the pick was announced. Draft experts said Evans was expected to be selected somewhere from the second to eighth pick. Evans was freshman of the year in Conference USA last season.
Henderson, 21, is a 6-5 shooting guard who led the Blue Devils in scoring at 16.5 a game last season. Henderson, son of former Sixer Gerald Henderson, saw his stock rising as he got closer to draft night.
"I talked to Michael [Jordan, Bobcats part-owner) about it and we can't believe we did it," Charlotte coach Larry Brown joked about selecting Henderson. Brown and Jordan, of course, are North Carolina Tar Heels, the biggest rivals of Henderson's Duke Blue Devils.
Ellington, famously, was Henderson's high school teammate at Episcopal. He is 21 years old, a 6-4, 200-pound junior, who was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, won by UNC. He averaged 14.7 points in his UNC career and scored in double figures in 95 of 115 games. He earned All-ACC Tournament honors all 3 years. He started 112 of 115 games at UNC.
Saint Joseph's forward Ahmad Nivins was selected 56th by the Dallas Mavericks. Nivins, 22, is a 6-9, 235-pounder who led the Hawks in scornig (19.2), rebounding (11.8), field-goal percentage (61.2), blocked shots (1.8) and free-throw percentage (78.7).
Temple guard Dionte Christmas was not drafted. The NBA draft consists of 60 picks over two rounds.
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FRAN DUNPHY, Temple
He begins his third season on North Broad with nearly 350 career victories after a long tenure at Penn. The Owls won the Atlantic 10 Tournament last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
BRUISER FLINT, Drexel
He begins his eighth season with the Dragons after returning to the city where he played collegiately at St. Joe’s. The Dragons have advanced to the postseason in four of the last six years and have won at least 17 games four times under Flint.
DR. JOHN GIANNINI, La Salle
He begins his fifth season at the school after successful tenures at the University of Maine and Rowan, where teams made two trips to the Division III Final Four. At LaSalle two seasons ago, he engineered an 18-win season and third-place finish in the Atlantic 10, the school’s best finish since joining the league for the 1995-96 season.
PHIL MARTELLI, Saint Joseph’s
He begins his 14th season on Hawk Hill, having won more than 250 games. He is a four-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and has taken the Hawks to the postseason in seven of the last eight years.
GLEN MILLER, Penn
He begins his third season at the school after moving within the Ivy League from Brown. In his first season, he led the Quakers to an Ivy League championship and their third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
JAY WRIGHT, Villanova
He begins his eighth season at ‘Nova, having amassed 148 wins at the school. Villanova has made the NCAA Tournament for the last four seasons, including three trips to the Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight appearance. Wright came to Villanova following his tenure at Hofstra and has 270 career victories.
