University Southern California Trojans
Vucevic Selected 16th By Philadelphia In 2011 NBA Draft
June 23, 2011 | Men's Basketball
June 23, 2011
USC forward Nikola Vucevic was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft held today (June 23) at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Vucevic becomes the fifth Trojan selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since 2007, joining Nick Young (2007), O.J. Mayo (2008), DeMar DeRozan (2009) and Taj Gibson (2009). USC has continued its trend of producing NBA talent as its five first round selections in the last five NBA Drafts ties for fifth-most in the country during that stretch, trailing only Texas and Kansas with seven and Ohio State and Kentucky with six players drafted.
USC has had more first round selections in the past five years (2007-11) than any Big East team and more than perennial power Duke. USC is the only Pac-10 school with a first round selection in four of the last five NBA Drafts and only USC (4) and Kansas (6) have had at least one player selected in the top 16 picks in four of the last five drafts.
"We are very proud of Nikola (Vucevic) and really appreciate what a great person he is both on and off the court," said USC head basketball coach Kevin O'Neill. "He was a great person to coach and we hope he's just one of many NBA people that we will have in our program. We will miss him, but we wish him nothing but the best and are very proud of him."
"He's gotten better every year, especially the last two under Kevin O'Neill," said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
Vucevic averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in 2011 and helped USC earn an NCAA Tournament berth. He scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in USC's NCAA Tournament first-round loss to VCU which was his 22nd double-double of the season, fifth best in the country. Vucevic became the first Trojan to average a double-double since Jaha Wilson in the 1994-95 season. Vucevic was named to the 2010-11 All-Pac-10 First Team and was tabbed a FOXSports.com All-America Fourth Team member. His 350 rebounds in 2011 rank as the third most in a single-season by a Trojan and his 582 points scored were the 10th-most in a season by a Trojan.
"This was by far the greatest moment of my life," said Vucevic. "When I heard my name called, I was just going to hold myself. I had to cry a little bit and hug my parents and my agent. It was a great feeling. I'm looking forward to the next step now. I think [the 76ers] are a great fit for me, and I think I will be able to fit in there really well."
The Trojans' multi-talented big man played 87 games in his three-year career for USC, averaging 11.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Vucevic's 694 career rebounds tie him for 13th on USC's all-time list and he became the only Trojan to capture the Pac-10 rebound title in consecutive seasons, a feat he accomplished in 2010 and 2011. His 8.0 career rebounding average ranks 10th all-time by a Trojan.
