Former Ball State men's basketball standout Theron Smith wasfinally drafted. Smith was selected in the Charlotte Bobcatsexpansion draft from the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
''We think this young man is the sleeper of this selection,''Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff told TheAssociated Press.
"What we want is players who need an opportunity to show theycan play. Players talk all the time, they want PT -- playing time-- and they want to know their role. We can guarantee both."
The 6-8, 225-pound forward signed with the Grizzlies on July 16,2003 as an undrafted free agent. He played in 20 games with theteam and averaged 2.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 8.9 minutes pergame.
"He's a very good all-around basketball player," Bickerstaffsaid in a press release. "He's been primarily a small forward inMemphis, but has the ability to play more than one position. He's avery good rebounder and likes to mix it up with guys who are hissize and bigger."
Smith played the most of any rookie on the Grizzlies, even aftersitting out 53 games with tendonitis in his right knee.
"Inevitably, a team is going to lose a quality player," JerryWest, president of basketball operations, said. "Not only is TheronSmith an exceptional talent and athlete, but he is also a qualityyoung man.
"We are very disappointed to be losing Theron, but at the sametime are happy for him as he undoubtedly has a promising NBA careerahead of him."
Smith spent three full seasons with the Cardinals and firstdeclared for the NBA draft after his junior season. After not beingselected, he returned for his senior year, and was a preseasoncandidate for All-American, the John Wooden Award and MAC Player ofthe Year honors.
Smith played in only three games before injuring his right kneeand decided to sit out the rest of the season because oftendonitis. He had obtained a medical redshirt for his seniorseason and could have come back for the 2003-2004 season, but didnot.
Smith averaged more than 12 points per game his freshman seasonand was named the MAC Freshman of the Year.
During his junior season, he had 23 double-doubles, which rankedfirst in the MAC and second in the nation.
Smith played in 96 games, starting in all but eight of them. Heis tied for sixth on Ball State's career scoring charts with 1,599points and ranks fourth on the career rebounding charts with882.
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