Wake Forest's Tim Duncan tops NBA draft picks

Jet, July 14, 1997

Consensus college player of the year Tim Duncan, who last year chose to forego the lure of NBA fortune and fame to finish college, topped the list of NBA draft picks this year as he was selected No. 1 by the San Antonio Spurs.

Duncan, a 6-10 senior out of Wake Forest University, received the highest marks of any player in the draft. He is expected to earn a starting position alongside Spurs star center David Robinson. The addition of Duncan should bolt the Spurs back into Western Conference contention. Duncan is a versatile player and a premier shot-blocker who averaged 3.8 per game throughout his college career.

He was the first senior taken No. 1 overall since the Charlotte Hornets chose Larry Johnson in 1991. Three of the first four picks were seniors, and 19 of the 28 first-round choices were seniors.

Keith Van Horn, a White 6-9 forward out of Utah, was taken second by the Philadelphia 76ers. He is expected to be traded to the New Jersey Nets.

The Boston Celtics with the third pick chose 6-3 guard Chauncey Billups out of Colorado. An athletic leaper with speed and dexterity, Billups averaged 19.1 points per game and 4.8 assists.

Antonio Daniels, a 6-4 guard out of Bowling Green, was picked fourth by the Vancouver Grizzlies.

With the fifth pick, the Denver Nuggets chose Texas Tech forward Tony Battie. At 6-11 he averaged 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Ron Mercer, a sophomore guard out of Kentucky, went sixth to the Boston Celtics, where he will play under his college coach Rick Pitino. Ultra- athletic and super quick, Mercer averaged 18 points per game.

The New Jersey Nets picked Tim Thomas at seventh. The 6-9 forward from Villanova is expected to be traded to the 76ers.

The eighth pick by the Golden State Warriors was 6-10 center Adonal Foyle from Colgate. He's the NCAA's all-time leader in blocks (492), and he is only the third player in NCAA history to compile 1,700 points, 1,000 rebounds and 450 blocks m a career.

Tracy McGrady, the high school standout who signed a multimillion-dollar shoe contract before he was drafted, was picked ninth by the Toronto Raptors. Coming from Mount Zion Christian Academy, he is the fourth high schooler to be picked in the first round in the past three years.

The No. 10 pick by the Milwaukee Bucks was 6-7 forward Danny Fortson. He was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Olivier Saint-Jean, the quick guard from San Jose State, was grabbed 11th by the Sacramento Kings.

The Indiana Pacers selected Providence forward Austin Croshere, who is White, for the 12th pick.

Derek Anderson, a 6-5 guard known for his defensive ability, was the 13th pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Twenty-three of the 28 first-round draft picks are Black.