Center Nikola Vucevic enjoyed a fine junior season at USC, and was rewarded as a first-round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 16th pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. Vucevic, graded as the tallest player in the draft at 6-foot-11, averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds last season for the Trojans. He led USC with 22 double-doubles in 34 games.
Vucevic is the fifth first-round pick in the last five seasons from USC, joining DeMar DeRozan (9th pick, 2009), Taj Gibson (26th pick, 2009), O.J. Mayo (3rd pick, 2008), and Nick Young (16th pick, 2007). Vucevic figures to see time in Philadelphia, as their current frontcourt consists of Elton Brand and restricted free agent Spencer Hawes.
"Born in Switzerland, raised in Belgium, he's got a foreign name, but he's got a USC Trojan game," said Stuart Scott, adding nothing to the ESPN telecast.
For more USC basketball news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Conquest Chronicles. For more NBA Draft coverage, be sure to follow the SB Nation draft hub.
NBA Draft: USC's Nikola Vucevic Drafted 16th In First Round By Philadelphia 76ers
Center Nikola Vucevic enjoyed a fine junior season at USC, and was rewarded as a first-round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 16th pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. Vucevic, graded as the tallest player in the draft at 6-foot-11, averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds last season for the Trojans. He led USC with 22 double-doubles in 34 games.
Vucevic is the fifth first-round pick in the last five seasons from USC, joining DeMar DeRozan (9th pick, 2009), Taj Gibson (26th pick, 2009), O.J. Mayo (3rd pick, 2008), and Nick Young (16th pick, 2007). Vucevic figures to see time in Philadelphia, as their current frontcourt consists of Elton Brand and restricted free agent Spencer Hawes.
"Born in Switzerland, raised in Belgium, he's got a foreign name, but he's got a USC Trojan game," said Stuart Scott, adding nothing to the ESPN telecast.
For more USC basketball news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Conquest Chronicles. For more NBA Draft coverage, be sure to follow the SB Nation draft hub.
Jun 23 6:22p by Eric Stephen