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Night of Surprises
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Published: June 26, 2009
The 2008-09 Wake Forest Deacons set one more record -- to go.
The first Wake Forest team to win its first 16 games and only the second to be ranked No. 1 in the nation yesterday became the first in school history to have two players chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft the same season. James Johnson was drafted 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls and Jeff Teague was picked 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
Johnson and Teague, both sophomores, were expected to be drafted in the first round when they chose to leave Wake Forest for professional basketball. They were the 11th and 12th players in school history to be drafted in the first round and the first since Chris Paul in 2005.
"I'm very happy for James and Jeff and both of their families," Coach Dino Gaudio of the Deacons said through the Wake Forest media-relations department. "I'm very appreciative of their parents entrusting our coaching staff with their sons the last two years.
"We are happy to have helped these two young men fulfill their dreams. We wish them the very best and will follow their professional careers very closely. They join a long line of successful Wake Forest alumni in the NBA."
Johnson, a 6-9, 245-pound forward from Cheyenne, Wyo., said he would make himself available for the draft shortly after the season ended, and negated any chance of returning to Wake Forest by hiring an agent. He will join a team that finished second in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference with a 41-41 record and lost to Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
Johnson, who averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds, was prized for his athleticism and versatility. At Wake Forest he played every position except point guard.
"I think I will be interchangeable between the two, three and four spots," Johnson said before the draft. "I'm constantly working on my body figure, so I think I'll be able to play any of these positions. It's just up to the coaches.
"I can create my own jump shot. I love winning above all, and I can get to the rim."
Teague, a 6-2, 180-pound guard from Indianapolis, made himself available, but left open the possibility of returning until the deadline of June 15. He was drafted by a team that has improved dramatically over the past two seasons, to the point that the Hawks are now considered one of the most talented in the NBA.
The Hawks finished second to Orlando in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference with a 47-35 record and then knocked off the Miami Heat in seven games before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
ESPN reported yesterday that the Hawks don't intend to re-sign Mike Bibby, their starting point guard, who is a free agent. Also yesterday, they traded guards Acie Law and Speedy Claxton to the Golden State Warriors for Jamal Crawford, who is considered by some a better wing guard than point guard.
So Teague, who averaged 18.8 points and made second-team All-ACC, should have a chance to make an immediate contribution. Teague's strengths are his quickness, wingspan and ability to beat his defender off the dribble.
"He is a great player," General Manager Rick Sund of the Hawks said. "He is quick, can get to the rim and finish, and is maybe the best athlete at the point-guard position in this draft."
The Hawks have reason to regret the last time they passed up a Wake Forest point guard the draft, when they picked Marvin Williams of North Carolina over Paul in 2005.
The other Deacons to be taken in the first round were Len Chappell (fifth overall by Syracuse in 1962), Rod Griffin (17th overall by Denver in 1978), Frank Johnson (11th overall by Washington in 1981), Kenny Green (12th overall by Washington in 1985), Muggsy Bogues (12th overall by Washington in 1987), Rodney Rogers (ninth overall by Denver in 1993), Randolph Childress (19th overall by Detroit in 1995), Tim Duncan (first overall by San Antonio in 1997), Josh Howard (29th overall by Dallas in 2003), and Paul (fourth overall by New Orleans in 2005).
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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