Syracuse Well Represented at NBA Draft
By: Wendy Halik
Updated: June 29, 2012
Dion Waiters was selected fourth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday evening.
Waiters, the Big East Sixth Man of the Year, became the 18th Syracuse player to earn first-round selection.
Somewhat remarkably, Waiters did not start a game during his sophomore season with the Orange but he was a key performer for the Syracuse squad that won the Big East conference regular-season championship, reached the Elite Eight, and finished the campaign 34-3. The Orange were ranked as high as first in both national polls this season.
He played in all 37 games and averaged 12.6 points per game, the second-best mark on the team. Waiters had 67 steals to lead the Orange.
Fab Melo, a 7'0" center, was taken with the 22nd pick in the first round. The native of Juiz de Forz, Brazil was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He is the Syracuse record holder for most blocks in a single game with 10 against Seton Hall this past season. He also was named Preseason Big East Rookie of the Year as a freshman. This past season he ranked first for Syracuse in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and blocks (2.9 bpg).
Kris Joseph, a 6'7" forward, was taken with the 51st pick in the second round. The native of Montreal, Quebec, earned First Team All-Big East during his senior season and is one of 55 players in Syracuse University history to record 1,000 points in his career. During his senior season he ranked first on the Orange in points (13.4 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.7 rpg). During his junior season, he also was ranked first on the Orange in points (14.3 ppg) and second in rebounds (5.2 rpg).
Waiters, the Big East Sixth Man of the Year, became the 18th Syracuse player to earn first-round selection.
Somewhat remarkably, Waiters did not start a game during his sophomore season with the Orange but he was a key performer for the Syracuse squad that won the Big East conference regular-season championship, reached the Elite Eight, and finished the campaign 34-3. The Orange were ranked as high as first in both national polls this season.
He played in all 37 games and averaged 12.6 points per game, the second-best mark on the team. Waiters had 67 steals to lead the Orange.
Fab Melo, a 7'0" center, was taken with the 22nd pick in the first round. The native of Juiz de Forz, Brazil was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He is the Syracuse record holder for most blocks in a single game with 10 against Seton Hall this past season. He also was named Preseason Big East Rookie of the Year as a freshman. This past season he ranked first for Syracuse in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and blocks (2.9 bpg).
Kris Joseph, a 6'7" forward, was taken with the 51st pick in the second round. The native of Montreal, Quebec, earned First Team All-Big East during his senior season and is one of 55 players in Syracuse University history to record 1,000 points in his career. During his senior season he ranked first on the Orange in points (13.4 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.7 rpg). During his junior season, he also was ranked first on the Orange in points (14.3 ppg) and second in rebounds (5.2 rpg).
