June 30, 1999

ATLANTA (AP) - Pete Babcock encouraged Dion Glover to return to Georgia Tech for another season. That didn't stop the Atlanta Hawks from picking him in the first round of the NBA draft Wednesday night.

Glover, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, was a surprise choice by the Hawks with the 20th overall selection, allowing him to continue his career at home.

The 6-foot-5 guard was born in Marietta, went to high school in Decatur and played his lone college season with the Yellow Jackets.

"I'm happy to be here," Glover said. "Mr. Babcock made my dream come true."

Babcock, the Hawks general manager, had advised Glover to remain at Tech and further refine his skills, especially coming off such a serious injury. With a glut of first-round picks, however, Atlanta decided to take a chance on the local favorite with their third pick.

The Hawks chose Arizona guard Jason Terry at No. 10 and Old Dominion forward Cal Bowdler at No. 17.

"We felt the risk was worth it," Babcock said. "The doctors felt his knee was healthy and we're not going to push him."

The Hawks drafted Georgia forward Jumaine Jones with the 27th pick of the first round, but his Atlanta career lasted less than an hour. Not needing to carry four rookies with guaranteed, three-year contracts, the Hawks dealt Jones to the Philadelphia 76ers for a future first-round pick.

Jones was among the select group of players invited to Washington's MCI Center for the draft. As he slipped deeper and deeper into the first round, he wound up sitting alone, the last one to hear his name called.

When finally chosen by the Hawks, Jones made his way to the podium, shook hands with NBA commissioner David Stern and broke down in tears.

"I know God does things for a reason," Jones said. "He's testing me right now to see how I bounce back."

The 6-7 forward, a native of Camilla, left Georgia two years early after leading the Southeastern Conference in scoring (18.8 points per game) as a sophomore. He had no regrets about his decision after the excruciating wait on draft night.

"If I could make that decision again, I would still leave Georgia," Jones said.

Glover was the third-leading freshman scorer in the nation in 1997-98, averaging 18.4 points. He tore left knee ligaments during his first practice as a sophomore, knocking him out for the season.

Nevertheless, he decided to enter the NBA draft.

"I didn't have any second thoughts," Glover said. "I felt in my heart and in my mind this was what I should do. I got picked by a good team, an established team, a very stable team. Hopefully, we'll try to make a playoff run here. Hopefully, we'll win a championship in the years to come."

A couple of other players with ties to the state also went in the first round. Duke guard William Avery, a native of Augusta, was the 14th overall selection by Minnesota, while Thomson's Vonteego Cummings, a guard at Pittsburgh, was the 26th selection by Indiana.

Before the night was over, Cummings was traded to Golden State.

Jones was among the select group of players invited to Washington's MCI Center for the draft. As he slipped deeper and deeper into the first round, he wound up sitting alone, the last one to hear his name called.

When finally chosen by the Hawks, Jones made his way to the podium, shook hands with NBA commissioner David Stern and broke down in tears.

"I know God does things for a reason," Jones said. "He's testing me right now to see how I bounce back."

The 6-7 forward, a native of Camilla, left Georgia two years early after leading the Southeastern Conference in scoring (18.8 points per game) as a sophomore. He had no regrets about his decision after the excruciating wait on draft night.

"If I could make that decision again, I would still leave Georgia," Jones said.

Glover was the third-leading freshman scorer in the nation in 1997-98, averaging 18.4 points. He tore left knee ligaments during his first practice as a sophomore, knocking him out for the season.

Nevertheless, he decided to enter the NBA draft.

"I didn't have any second thoughts," Glover said. "I felt in my heart and in my mind this was what I should do. I got picked by a good team, an established team, a very stable team. Hopefully, we'll try to make a playoff run here. Hopefully, we'll win a championship in the years to come."

A couple of other players with ties to the state also went in the first round. Duke guard William Avery, a native of Augusta, was the 14th overall selection by Minnesota, while Thomson's Vonteego Cummings, a guard at Pittsburgh, was the 26th selection by Indiana.

Before the night was over, Cummings was traded to Golden State.