June 27, 2006

Wake Forest And The NBA Draft

Ten Demon Deacons have been first-round selections -  Chris Paul (2005), Tim Duncan (1997), Muggsy Bogues (1987), Len Chappell (1962), Randolph Childress (1995), Kenny Green (1985), Rod Griffin (1978), Josh Howard (2003), Frank Johnson (1981) and Rodney Rogers (1993).

Wake Forest has never had two players taken in the first round in the same year.

Since 2002, three Wake Forest players have been drafted - Darius Songaila by Boston in the second round of the 2002 Draft, Josh Howard by Dallas in the first round of the 2003 Draft, and Chris Paul by New Orleans/OKC in 2005.

Three Deacons - Tim Duncan, the first overall pick in 1997, Len Chappell, the fifth pick in 1962, and Paul - have been taken in the top five. The only other Deacons to be drafted in the top 10 were Rodney Rogers (9th in 1993) and Dave Budd (10th in 1960).

Below is a look at the highest-drafted Deacons:

Player Selection Team Year
Tim Duncan 1st San Antonio 1997
Chris Paul 4th New Orleans/OKC 2005
Len Chappell 5th Syracuse 1962
Rodney Rogers 9th Denver 1993
Dave Budd *10th New York 1960
Frank Johnson 11th Washington 1981
Muggsy Bogues 12th Washington 1987
Kenny Green 12th Washington 1985
Dickie Hemric *12th Boston 1955
Rod Griffin 17th Denver 1978
Randolph Childress 19th Detroit 1995
Ronnie Watts *20th Boston 1965
Josh Howard 29th Dallas 2003
*Second round

Seven former Deacons have gone in the second round, most recently Darius Songaila in 2002.

The NBA franchise that has selected the most Deacons in the draft has been Washington, which took Bogues, Green, Johnson and Jerry Schellenberg.

Wake Forest had a record three players drafted in 1982 - Guy Morgan (2nd round), Jim Johnstone (3rd) and Mike Helms (7th).

The only time Wake had two players taken in the first two rounds of the same draft came in 1984 when Anthony Teachey and Danny Young were both drafted in the second round.

Five times in draft history have two Deacons been selected in the same year -- Skip Brown (3rd round) and Jerry Schellenberg (3rd) in 1977; Gil McGregor (6th) and Charlie Davis (8th) in 1971; Kenny Green (1st) and Delaney Rudd (4th) in 1985; Rod Griffin (1st) and Leroy McDonald (7th) in 1978;  and Anthony Teachey (2nd) and Danny Young (2nd) in 1984.