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Ira Brown Drafted In Fourth Round By Austin Toros of NBDL
Nov. 6, 2009
ATLANTA, Ga. - Former Gonzaga University men's basketball player Ira Brown was the 11th pick of the fourth round by the Austin Toros in the NBA Developmental League Draft Thursday in Atlanta. Brown, who played two seasons for the Bulldogs after transferring from Phoenix College, will be returning to his home state. He attended Willis High in Conroe, Texas. He played five seasons of minor league baseball as a pitcher prior to enrolling at Phoenix College and pursuing his basketball career. Last season for the Bulldogs he appeared in all 34 games, averaged nearly 10 minutes/game, 2.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 0.4 blocks/game. He was a crowd favorite for his thunder dunks. The Toros are celebrating their fifth anniversary in the NBDL, which was formed in 2001. Austin is affiliated with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. Austin went 32-18 a year ago, finishing two games behind eventual NBDL champion Colorado in the Southwest Division. The Albuquerque Thunderbirds selected Carlos Powell, a 6-7 small forward from South Carolina, with the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft. The Tulsa 66ers selected Latavious Williams, a 6-8 forward, the first-ever player selected in the NBA D-League Draft directly from high school with the last pick in the first round. With the second pick, the Erie BayHawks drafted Donell Taylor, a 6-6 small forward from Alabama-Birmingham, while the Los Angeles D-Fenders selected Deron Washington with the third overall selection. Williams, the first player drafted into the NBA D-League directly from high school is a native of Sarkville, Miss. and most recently attended Christian life Center, a prep school in Humble, Texas. Williams made the jump to the professional ranks in order to continue his development on and off of the court. The first three players, and eight of the first round selections, were all members of NBA Summer League rosters in July, 2009. Powell played for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 16.5 minutes over four games, while Taylor suited up for the San Antonio Spurs and averaged 5.4 points in 14.8 minutes over five games. Deron Washington completes the trio, playing for the Detroit Pistons and averaging 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 31.4 minutes in five games.
Other notable first round selections include former NBA players Desmon Farmer, a 6-5 guard from USC, JamesOn Curry from Oklahoma State, originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2007 NBA Draft, and French international standout Amara Sy, a 6-8 forward, who was selected by the Bakersfield Jam with the fourth overall selection. Complete rosters for each of the 16 2009-10 NBA D-League teams will be comprised of the eight players drafted tonight along with seven returning, allocation, and local tryout players. Rosters will be reduced to 12 players on Nov. 18 and opening-day 10-man rosters must be set by Nov. 25 in anticipation of the Nov. 27 tip off of the NBA D-League's ninth season. Each team will play one preseason game between Nov. 19 and 25. |
