June 28, 2005
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech’s Jarrett Jack, was taken in the first-round of the National Basketball Association draft Tuesday night, becoming the 22nd overall pick by the Denver Nuggets. The 6-3 point guard was later traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for the rights to forwards Linas Kleiza and Ricky Sanchez, whom the Blazers had taken with picks No. 27 and 35. Jack was the only Tech player chosen in the draft, while Yellow Jacket seniors Will Bynum, B.J. Elder and Luke Schenscher will wait for free agent contract offers.
Jack is the fourth Tech point guard to go in the first round of the NBA draft, joining Stephon Marbury (1996), Travis Best (1995) and Kenny Anderson (1991). Mark Price was the first pick of the second round back in 1986.
Following are some other facts regarding the history of Georgia Tech players in the National Basketball Association draft.
Highest draft pick previously: Kenny Anderson (No. 2 overall to New Jersey in 1991)
Next highest picks: Stephon Marbury (No. 4 overall to Milwaukee in 1996, traded to Minnesota); Dennis Scott (No. 4 overall to Orlando in 1990); Chris Bosh (No. 4 to Toronto in 2003)
Lottery picks: Bosh was the sixth lottery pick (today one of the top 14 players chosen) from Georgia Tech since the lottery was implemented in 1985. The others were: John Salley (11th overall to Detroit, 1985), Tom Hammonds (9th overall to Washington in 1989), Scott, Anderson and Marbury.
First-round picks: Jack is the 14th Tech player taken in the first round overall, the 12th since 1989 and the fifth in the last seven years.
Multiple players taken in the same draft: It has happened eight times, first in 1965 (Jim Caldwell, 3rd round, L.A. Lakers; Ron Scharf, 15th round, Cincinnati Royals) and most recently in 1996 (Marbury, 1st round, Milwaukee; Drew Barry, 2nd round, Seattle). Tech has never had more than two players taken in the same draft, however, and never more than one in the first round.
Active NBA players: Eight former Tech players were on active NBA rosters during the 2004-05 season. They were Anderson (L.A. Clippers), Jon Barry (Houston), Travis Best (New Jersey), Bosh (Toronto), Jason Collier (Atlanta), Dion Glover (San Antonio), Matt Harpring (Utah), Marbury (New York).
Early NBA entries: Jack is the sixth Tech player to make an early entry into the NBA draft. All except Scott (1990 draft, retired after 2000-01 season) remain active in the league. The other early entries were Anderson (1991), Marbury (1996), Glover (1998) and Bosh (2003).
For more information:
Jack’s official Georgia Tech bio
Bynum’s official Georgia Tech bio
Elder’s official Georgia Tech bio
Schenscher’s official Georgia Tech bio
