NEWARK, NJ -- Glens Falls native Jimmer Fredette was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Thursday night at the Prudential Center. But the pick was part of a three-team trade between the Bucks, Kings, and Bobcats which landed the 6'3" guard in Sacramento.
As part of that trade, the Bucks received Beno Udrih from the Kings in exchange for John Salmons, Corey Maggette and the rights to the 10th pick. And that could free Fredette to step right in as Sacramento's starting point guard.
After the first nine picks, and nearly an hour, the 10th overall selection was announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern, ending Fredette's wait.
"It took a while, but I was a top 10 pick in the draft," said Fredette. "It definitely is nerve wracking. (You're) very, very anxious to hear your name called and you don't know what's going to happen when all these trades go down."
Fredette, who played college basketball at Brigham Young University, won several awards this season, including the Wooden Award and the Associated Press Player of the Year while also leading the NCAA in scoring. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Section II history from his days starring for the Glens Falls Indians.
It's been crazy,” said Jimmer, who honored his commitment to return home for the Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony. “It's been overwhelming, a little bit, this last week.”
Fredette was receiving the Sam Perkins Sportsmanship Award, named for the former Shaker High star, who went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA.
“Hopefully, I'll be able to follow in those footsteps,” Jimmer said. “I'm a different type of player, obviously, but hopefully I'll be able to do well in the NBA.”
The Fredettes are happy with how Jimmer fits in with the Kings.
“We really like Sacramento, as a fit for him,” said Al Fredette, Jim
mer's father. “There are a lot of really good things about it.”
The early assumption is that Jimmer should get plenty of playing time with the Kings, who are trying to rebuild and improve as a team.
“If he plays well and does what he can usually do, he'll get playing time,” Al Fredette said, “What a player wants is playing time and with playing time, you should be able to build a career.
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