University of Minnesota Athletics
Humphries Taken by Utah with 14th Pick of NBA Draft
6/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Humphries was the clear choice as the Conference Freshman of the Year by both coaches and media in 2004, after becoming the first frosh in Big Ten history to lead the way in both scoring and rebounding. He edged Devin Harris of Wisconsin for the Big Ten scoring title in the final game of the regular season to average 21.0 points per outing while topping all players with 9.5 boards per contest. Harris was the fifth pick overall by the Washington Wizards and then was dealt to Dallas.
Humphries became just the sixth player in League annals to lead in both categories and the first since Purdue's Glenn Robinson accomplished the feat as a sophomore during the 1994 campaign. The 6-9 forward was the second Gopher to earn the award in the last three years, as Rickert became the first Minnesota honoree in 2002.
Thursday's first round saw two Big Ten players selected among the first 14 players taken in the draft. In the 2003 draft, a Conference player was not taken until the 24th pick overall, when Brian Cook of Illinois was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. A second League player was not drafted in 2003 until Rickert was taken by the Timberwolves with the 55th overall selection.
Not since the 2000 draft have two Big Ten players been taken in the top 15. In 2000, Michigan's Jamal Crawford was taken by Cleveland and then traded to Chicago with the eighth selection overall, and was followed by Przybilla with the ninth pick by Houston. Michigan State's Mateen Cleaves was tabbed as the 14th overall selection by Detroit.
Following is a list of Golden Gopher NBA First Round Draft Picks
Lou Hudson St. Louis Hawks,1966 (4th selection)
Jim Brewer Cleveland Cavaliers, 1973 (2nd selection)
Ron Behagen KC-Omaha Kings, 1973 (7th selection)
Ray Williams New York Knicks, 1977 (10th selection)
Mychal Thompson Portland Trail Blazers, 1978 (1st selection)
Kevin McHale Boston Celtics, 1980 (3rd selection)
Trent Tucker New York Knicks, 1982 (6th selection)
Randy Breuer Milwaukee Bucks, 1983 (18th selection)
Willie Burton Miami Heat, 1990 (9th selection)
Bobby Jackson Seattle SuperSonics, 1997 (23rd selection)
John Thomas New York Knicks, 1997 (25th selection)
Sam Jacobson Los Angeles Lakers, 1998 (26th selection)
Quincy Lewis Utah Jazz, 1999 (19th selection)
Joel Przybilla Houston Rockets, 2000 (9th selection)
Kris Humphries Utah Jazz, 2004 (14th selection)
