Xavier University Athletics
Three Xavier Alumni Selected In 2004 NBA Draft
06.24.04 | Men's Basketball
Xavier's draftees include 6-0 guard Lionel Chalmers and 6-5 guard Romain Sato from the 2004 NCAA ?Elite Eight? team. Chalmers, who is a 2003 graduate and was a graduate student in his "senior year" of 2004, was selected by the L.A. Clippers with the fourth selection of the second round and the 33rd pick overall. 2004 graduate Sato was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 23rd pick of the second round and the 52nd pick overall. 2003 Xavier graduate David Young, a 6-5 guard, was selected with the 12th selection of the second round and the 41st pick overall.
This marks the first time that more than one Xavier alum has been selected in the first two rounds in the same year since Tyrone Hill (first round ?lottery pick? at no. 11 by Golden State) and Derek Strong (second round and 47th overall by Philadelphia) in 1990.
Tonight?s selections give Xavier four NBA Draft selections among its alumni over the past two seasons. 2003 National Player of the Year David West was selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the 18th overall selection in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft. Xavier has now had 35 players drafted by the NBA in its history, including nine selections in the first or second round since 1990.
Chalmers, Sato and Young are the ninth, 10th and 11th Xavier alums ever selected in the first round or second round in the history of the NBA Draft. The first round selections were West, James Posey (no. 18 overall by Denver in 1999), Hill and Brian Grant (?lottery pick? at an XU school record no. 8 by Sacramento in 1994). XU?s four other all-time second round selections were Torraye Braggs (57th overall by Utah in 1998), Derek Strong (47th overall by Philadelphia in 1990), Vic Fleming (26th overall by Portland in 1984) and Bob Quick (18th overall by Baltimore in 1968).
Chalmers, Sato and Young are bidding to become the 10th,11th and 12th former Xavier players to play in the NBA since the 1993 season and can join four fellow alums who are still in the league: David West (New Orleans; entering his second season), Brian Grant (Miami; entering his 11th season), Aaron Williams (entering his 11th season) and James Posey (Memphis; entering his sixth season.
Chalmers, who ended his career 14th on Xavier?s all-time scoring list with 1,556 points, led Xavier in scoring as a senior at 16.6 ppg. Chalmers, the 2004 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP, also earned 2004 All-NCAA Tournament Regional Team honors.
Sato finished his career third on Xavier?s all-time scoring list (2,005 points) and eighth on Xavier?s all-time rebounding list (892 rebounds), while also dishing out 256 assists. The two-time First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection, who was second on the team in scoring (16.3 ppg.) and first in rebounding (8.0 rpg.) as a senior, also earned AP Honorable Mention All-American honors and 2004 All-NCAA Tournament Regional Team honors while being named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Defensive Team for the third straight year.
The senior trio of Chalmers, Sato and Anthony Myles combined to average 49.8 points, 20.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists in eight 2004 postseason games (four NCAA Tournament games and four Atlantic 10 Tournament games), while helping Xavier finish 26-11, win the 2004 Atlantic 10 Championship and earn its first NCAA Tournament ?Elite Eight? appearance.
Young played three seasons at Xavier, including starting 30 games and averaging 8.0 ppg. for the Musketeers in the 2001-02 season. Following his 2003 graduation from Xavier, Young used his final year of eligibility at North Carolina Central in the 2003-04 season.
