June 30, 1999

By TheACC.com Staff

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Highlighted by top pick Elton Brand and second overall selection Steve Francis, the ACC led all conferences with six first round-selections in the 1999 NBA Draft, held Wednesday night at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.

The Big East was second with four first-rounders, while the WAC had three. The PAC-10 and the SEC each had two, while the Big-10 had one. This also marked the 11th consecutive year, and the 13th time in the last 14 years, in which the ACC had at least two first-round selections.

Since 1986, the ACC has produced 60 first-rounders, while the Big East is second with 44. All-time, 371 players from ACC schools have been drafted, including 119 first-round picks.

Brand became the third NBA top-pick to come from the ACC in the last five years, as Maryland's Joe Smith was taken by the Golden State Warriors in 1995 and Wake Forest's Tim Duncan was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in 1997.

Brand also became the ninth No. 1 selection from the ACC, and the first from Duke since Art Heyman was picked by the New York Knicks in 1963. In addition to Smith and Duncan, the ACC's other top picks were: NC State's David Thompson (1975/Lakers); Maryland's John Lucas (1976/Rockets); UNC's James Worthy (1982/Lakers); Virginia's Ralph Sampson (1983/Rockets); and UNC's Brad Daugherty (1986/Cavaliers).

Meanwhile, Duke became the first school ever to have four first-round selections in the same draft, as Brand was followed Wednesday by No. 11 Trajan Langdon (Cleveland), No. 13 Corey Maggette (Seattle, then traded to Orlando) and No. 14 William Avery (Minnesota).

The Blue Devils also jumped into sole possession of second place in ACC history in all-time draft picks, with 59. Duke moved out of a tie with NC State, which has had 55 players drafted.

Even with no selections Wednesday, North Carolina maintains the ACC's all-time lead in NBA draft picks (83) and first-rounders (29). Duke is second with 20 all-time first rounders, while Maryland is third with 14.

ACC Players in the 1999 NBA Draft

Rd Pick Player                     Team
 1   1  Elton Brand, Duke          Chicago Bulls
 1   2  Steve Francis, Maryland    Vancouver Grizzlies
 1  11  Trajan Langdon, Duke       Cleveland Cavaliers
 1  13  Corey Maggette, Duke       Seattle SuperSonics*
 1  14  William Avery, Duke        Minnesota Timberwolves
 1  20  Dion Glover, Georgia Tech  Atlanta Hawks
 2  37  Obinna Ekezie, Maryland    Vancouver Grizzlies
 2  38  Laron Profit, Maryland     Orlando Magic
 
 *Traded to Orlando