<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Sixers nab F Speights with the 16th pick Thursday, June 26, 2008 09:17 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - Marreese Speights continued the tradition of first-round draft picks from Florida. Speights was tabbed by the Philadelphia Sixers with the No. 16 overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft. A 6-10, 250 forward, Speights was a reserve on the second of Florida's back-to-back NCAA championship teams, which had three players selected among the first nine picks in last year's draft. With the entire starting five having graduated entering last season, Speights raised his game for the Gators, averaging 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Speights grabbed a career-high 18 boards in his final collegiate game - a loss to Massachusetts in the National Invitation Tournament semifials. After playing under six minutes per game as a freshman, Speights scored in double figures in 31 of 36 games, including his final 11 contests. Nick Young's numbers rose every year - and his draft stock went up accordingly. Young was taken with the 16th pick by the Washington Wizards in the NBA draft on Thursday night. The offensive-minded guard will join Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler - one of the highest-scoring trios in the league. A 6-6, 200-pounder, Young had 13 games of 20 points or more and finished second in the Pac-10 Conference in scoring at 17.5 points per game. Young elevated his shooting percentage in each of his three years, capped off by the marvelous junior season in which he shot an impressive 52.5 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. Thriving in an up-tempo offense, Young can take his man off the dribble and loves to attack the basketball for spectacular dunks. "It's a great feeling just to be drafted," Young said. "Going to a team like Washington is great. I watched them over the past years and I watched what Gilbert did to the Lakers, so it's a great feeling going there. "Me and Gilbert come from the same area (in Los Angeles), so he'll show me the ropes," Young said. "I'm just glad to be in this situation and it's a blessing." Despite his slight build, he is not afraid to challenge bigger men for his share of rebounds, having averaged 4.6 as a junior and 6.6 as a sophomore. Young needs to work on his ball-handling so he can maximize his already impressive slashing ability.</div> Thoughts?
Like the pick also. If he just gets his conditioning right and has a good work ethic, he'll be GREAT for us.
Great pick. I heard he has a great offensive game. He's gonna be a great fit alongside Dalembert, just wish we would've traded for somebody in the second round
I know this is premature and definetly a while from now. But am i the only one who thinks somehow that Tyreke Evans will come back here next year
