Maryland's Wilcox, Dixon And Baxter Chosen In NBA Draft
6/26/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 26, 2002
NEW YORK, NY- - For just the second time in Maryland basketball history, three players from the same Terrapin team have been chosen in the first two rounds of the National Basketball Association's annual amateur draft, as conducted from Madison Square Garden. It was the sixth time that at least three Terps were chosen overall.
Beginning with sophomore power forward Chris Wilcox, taken eighth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, and continuing with seniors Juan Dixon, also in the first round, and Lonny Baxter, chosen in the second round, the 2002 national champion Terrapins joined Gary Williams' 1999 squad as the only Maryland teams ever to boast three picks in the first two rounds.
The '99 draft was only time that Maryland has ever had three players chosen earlier in a draft. Steve Francis was chosen second (Vancouver), and Obinna Ekezie and Laron Profit were selected with consecutive second round picks at 37th (Vancouver) and 38th (Orlando).
This year's Maryland selections all were made in the first 44 picks of the draft, with Wilcox chosen eighth by the LA Clippers, Dixon chosen 17th overall by the Washington Wizards, and Baxter chosen in the second round by the Chicago Bulls. Baxter was the 44th pick overall.
For the first time since 1981 and just the third time in history, Maryland had two players selected in the first round of the draft. Wilcox and Dixon, who helped the Terps to a 32-4 record and an NCAA title last season, were chosen by the LA Clippers and the Washington Wizards, respectively, with the eighth and 17th overall selections.
The Wilcox and Dixon first-round draft duo joins Buck Williams (#3, New Jersey) and Albert King (#10, New Jersey) in 1981, and Tom McMillen (#9, Buffalo) and Len Elmore (#13, Washington) in 1974, as the only Maryland tandems ever to be chosen in the first round.
Wilcox, a 6-10 power forward with sensational athletic skills and seemingly unlimited potential, averaged 12.0 points and 7.1 rebounds through 36 games and 26 starts during his sophomore season at Maryland. He averaged 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds through 16 games in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He is the sixth player coached by Gary Williams ever to be chosen in the NBA draft lottery.
Dixon, meanwhile, concluded a four-year career at Maryland by becoming the winningest player in school history while playing a part in 110 victories since 1999. Also the all-time scoring leader in Terrapin history, Dixon joins Wilcox by becoming the 15th and 16th first round picks in school history.
Dixon was chosen as the Most Outstanding Player at the 2002 NCAA Final Four, a first team All-American and the ACC Player of the Year. He is the first player since former Terrapin and current Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Lucas to earn first-team All-ACC accolades in three consecutive seasons. He led the Terps to the national title by averaging 20.4 points and ranking among national steals leaders with 2.6. He is the first player in college basketball history with over 2,000 points, 300 steals and 200 3-point field goals.
Baxter, a 6-8 power forward who was voted the MVP of Maryland's NCAA Regional in each of the past two seasons, averaged 15.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last season. He joined Dixon as the highest-scoring tandem ever to win an NCAA championship, and finished his own career with 107 victories in a Maryland uniform.
Not drafted, but sure to attend an NBA training camp as a free agent was senior swingman Byron Mouton. Mouton, who transferred to Maryland from Tulane prior to the 1999-00 season, played as a junior and senior for the Terps and helped Maryland to a pair of Final Four appearances. He was an emotional catalyst while averaging 11.1 and 5.0 rebounds in 2002.
