Former Gopher and freshly drafted Quincy Lewis rocked back and forth in his chair at ease Wednesday night in Minneapolis. His face and demeanor conveyed relief, satisfaction and contentment; after all, he is on his way to apprentice under one of the league’s top teams.
The Utah Jazz selected Lewis with its 19th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft in Washington, D.C. Most draft experts expected the Big Ten’s top scorer of a year ago to go in the middle to late first round.
“I wanted to go to a program where everything was stable,” Lewis said. “It’s always good to go to a contender and be able to learn and not be thrown out to the wolves. I really think Utah is a great fit for me.”
Lewis becomes the fourth Gophers player in the last three years to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. He joins former 1997 Final Four teammates Bobby Jackson (No. 23 overall) and John Thomas (25) in 1997, and Sam Jacobson (26) in 1998.
Like his predecessors at the professional level, Lewis will most likely begin his career learning the aspects of the pro game and trying to pick up as much as possible from those around him. Lewis’ agent Rob Metcalf said it should be an ideal situation.
“Quincy is kind of a sponge, he’ll go in and absorb what those guys are talking about,” said Metcalf. “He has a chance to come in without a lot of expectation, without a lot of pressure on him to produce immediately, but certainly an expectation for him to grow into a player that can start to be the new era of the Utah Jazz.”
If Utah is a great fit for Lewis, the feeling from Scott Layden, vice president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz, is mutual.
“He’s our type of guy; he seems like a fine young man,” said Layden. “He’s gotten considerably better each year while he’s played at Minnesota, and that’s always an intriguing thing.”
In addition to Lewis’ well-received personality and scoring ability (23.1 points per game), Layden also mentioned that Lewis’ ability to rebound the ball (5.9 rpg) and potential ability to play both the small forward and big guard positions as reasons for their making Lewis the team’s selection.
“I know I’m relieved,” Lewis said of his thoughts on being drafted. “I’m employed now, so I’m kind of happy. I’m excited to take the next step in my basketball journey.”
As Lewis packs his bags for Salt Lake City, he can also take with him the confidence that he will continue to receive support and admiration along his journey from former Gophers coach Clem Haskins.
“It was an honor for me to coach this young man,” Haskins said. “He’s what you look for in a student-athlete. I think (the Jazz) are not only getting a first-class basketball player, but a first-class individual.”
Other draft news:
ù Elton Brand, selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick in the draft, was joined by three other former Duke University players — Trajan Langdon (No. 11 overall), Corey Maggette (13), and William Avery (14) — setting the record for the most first-round selections from one college.
ù The Minnesota Timberwolves used the sixth pick in the draft to select senior forward Wally Szczerbiak of the University of Miami (Ohio), and then took the sophomore guard Avery with their 14th pick. The pair is expected to dramatically improve the Wolves’ perimeter shooting.
ù Devean George of Augsburg College became the first Division III player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when he was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 23rd pick.
“I feel like a lot is off my chest right now,” George said. “I know I’ve got a lot to do, but I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot so far.”
