2001 USBL Draft Features a Local Flavor.
Long Island Surf use picks to select Hofstra and Aldephi players.
By Rob Goldenberg
The Hofstra Pride's season run did not fade into the night with their first
round NCAA tournament loss to UCLA. Hofstra winners of a nation best eighteen
straight games, left a mark on the sixteenth annual United States Basketball
League draft, with 4 Pride players being selected in the six round, sixty
player draft, including three by the Long Island Surf.
Hofstra's Norman Richardson the two time American East player of the week
and, the teams starting center Greg Springfield highlighted the list of draftees.
The Brooklyn Kings selected Springfield as the third overall pick in the draft.
Springfield, who stands at 6'9, averaged 5.5 points per game for the Pride,
and led them in rebounds per game and blocked shots.
The Surf selected guard Norman Richardson in the second round as the fifteenth
overall pick. Richardson, Hofstra's major spark plug during the season, averaged
a team high 16.7 points per game, and helped lead the team to a school record
26 wins. Richardson's season culminating in a twenty point effort against
Delaware in the Championship game of the American East Tournament which secured
Hofstra a victory and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The
victory also meant Richardson picked up the American East Tournament MVP award
The Surf spent two of their other draft picks on Hofstra players, with the
selections of forward Roberto Gittens (3rd Round - 24th overall) from Brooklyn
and guard Jason Hernandez (5th round- 42nd overall) from Oyster Bay.
The Division II Adelphi University Panthers, who had a perfect regular season,
did not go unnoticed either as guard Ryan McCormick was selected by the Surf
in the drafts sixth and final round. McCormick, who lead the Panthers to a
31-1 record the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, lead the team in points per
game with 17.4 and assists with 6.2 and proved to be a lethal weapon from
three point range.
The Surf, who begin their tenth season in the USBL, stayed right at home as
the team used all six of their draft picks to select players from New York
area.
The Surf selected West Virginia's Calvin Bowman from Brooklyn as their first
pick in the Draft. Bowman the draft's third overall pick is still a projected
second round draft pick in the 2001 NBA draft, but still needs to polish his
game. Bowman, who spent his days at Erasmus High School and won a PSAL Championship
in 1996, lead a surprising Mountaineer team to the NIT Tournament.
To his credit Bowman shared the Big East's Most Improved player of the year
and election to the First Team All Big East. Bowman increased his scoring
average from 12.1 as a junior to 17.8 this season ranking him second in the
Big East. His rebounding improved from 5.9 per game last season to 10.0 this
year and racked up 14 double-doubles.
The Surf also selected Providence stand out Karim Shabbazz (4th round - 33rd
overall) also a projected second round pick in the NBA draft.
Shabbazz, who helped to carry the Friar's to the NCAA Tournament, had a checkered
college career, transferring from Florida State University before landing
in Providence. He was the team leader in rebounds and blocks. Shabazz, who
is the tallest player to ever wear a Friar uniform, showed good defensive
and offensive skills.
Several other local players were selected in the draft including forward Reggie
Jessie by the Brooklyn Kings from St. Johns, and guard Allen Griffen from
Syracuse (selected by the Brooklyn Kings).
The Surf tip up the USBL season during the last week of April. Last year they
finished in third place in the Northern Division, losing in the first round
of the playoffs to the now defunct New Jersey Shorecats.
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2001 LONG ISLAND SURF DRAFT PICKS
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| PK | RD | PLAYER | COLLEGE | HT | P | HOMETOWN |
| 6 | 1st | Calvin Bowman | West Virginia | 6-9 | F/C | Brooklyn, NY/San Jacinto, TX JC |
| 15 | 2nd | Norman Richardson | Hofstra | 6-5 | F | Brooklyn, NY |
| 24 | 3rd | Roberto Gittens | Hofstra | 6-9 | F | Brooklyn, NY |
| 33 | 4th | Karim Shabazz | Providence | 7-2 | C | Far Rockaway, NY/Florida State |
| 42 | 5th | Jason Hernandez | Hofstra | 6-0 | G | Oyster Bay, NY |
| 51 | 6th | Ryan McCormick | Adelphi | 5-10 | G | N/A |