June 27, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Former Terrapin standout and two-time NCAA Regional MVP Lonny Baxter was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA's expansion draft on Tuesday night. Baxter completed his second season in the NBA in 2003-04, playing with the Washington Wizards, after spending time in Toronto and Chicago.

Baxter averaged 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game with Washington last season. Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfield said in a statement: "Charlotte made a good selection in Lonny. He has a solid future in the league, and we wish him the very best in his career."

Following the Terrapins' 2002 march to the national championship, Baxter was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls - the third Maryland selection that year alongside Chris Wilcox and Juan Dixon. While with the Bulls, Baxter averaged 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, including a career high 19 points versus the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 26, 2003. After a brief stint with the Toronto Raptors in 2004, Lonny was reunited with former Maryland NCAA championship teammates, Dixon and Steve Blake, when the Wizards claimed him off waivers in March.

While at Maryland, Baxter became just the 10th player in NCAA history to earn NCAA Regional MVP honors in consecutive seasons. He guided Maryland to Final Four appearances in 2001 and 2002, and NCAA appearances in each season on the hardwood. He and Dixon to became the highest-scoring tandem (4,127 points) in NCAA history to win a national championship. Baxter finished his career as Maryland's second-leading rebounder (998) and sixth all-time leading scorer (1,858 points).