Post by CrimsonPhantom on Jun 23, 2016 21:06:56 GMT -7
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former New Mexico State men's basketball power forward Pascal Siakam secured his name into Aggie lore on Thursday after being selected in the first round by the Toronto Raptors as the 27th pick overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Siakam is just the third player in NM State history and the first in 46 years to be drafted in the first round since Sam Lacey (fifth overall) and Jimmy Collins (11th) in 1970. The Douala, Cameroon, native is also the first player drafted in the NBA since Randy Brown, who was the fourth pick in the second round of the 1991 NBA Draft.
"For Pascal to go to Toronto makes it even more special," Aggie head coach Paul Weir said. "It's a special city who just got an equally sepcial person. Having Pascal in an Aggie uniform was a blessing for all of us who watched him play. To see him grow and transform from the day he arrived on campus is amazing. I wish we could take all the credit, but the reality is that Pascal is a tremendously driven young man who will accomplish incredible things."
Siakam becomes just the fourth player from Cameroon since 2001 to be drafted to the NBA, joining Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (2001, Portland Trailblazers), Luc Mbah a Moute (2008, Milwaukee Bucks) and Joel Embiid (2014, Philadelphia 76ers).
Siakam is just the third player in NM State history and the first in 46 years to be drafted in the first round since Sam Lacey (fifth overall) and Jimmy Collins (11th) in 1970. The Douala, Cameroon, native is also the first player drafted in the NBA since Randy Brown, who was the fourth pick in the second round of the 1991 NBA Draft.
"For Pascal to go to Toronto makes it even more special," Aggie head coach Paul Weir said. "It's a special city who just got an equally sepcial person. Having Pascal in an Aggie uniform was a blessing for all of us who watched him play. To see him grow and transform from the day he arrived on campus is amazing. I wish we could take all the credit, but the reality is that Pascal is a tremendously driven young man who will accomplish incredible things."
Siakam becomes just the fourth player from Cameroon since 2001 to be drafted to the NBA, joining Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (2001, Portland Trailblazers), Luc Mbah a Moute (2008, Milwaukee Bucks) and Joel Embiid (2014, Philadelphia 76ers).
Keep Reading: nmstatesports.com/news/2016/6/23/siakam-selected-in-first-round-of-2016-nba-draft.aspx