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New Mexico's J.R. Giddens and BYU's Trent Plaisted Selected in 2008 NBA Draft
Giddens taken as No. 30 pick by Boston, while Plaisted was selected 46th by Seattle and traded to Detroit.
June 27, 2008 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - University of New Mexico's J.R. Giddens and BYU's Trent Plaisted were selected in the 2008 National Basketball Association Draft held June 26 in New York City. Giddens was chosen with the 30th selection of the first round by the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, while Plaisted was selected by the Seattle Supersonics in the second round (46th overall). Plaisted was later traded to the Detroit Pistons. Giddens and Plaisted are the sixth and seventh players, respectively, in the MWC's nine-year history to be chosen in the NBA Draft. Giddens is the sixth Conference player to be chosen in the first round. Colorado State's Jason Smith was a first-round selection in 2007, while Utah's Andrew Bogut and New Mexico's Danny Granger were first-round picks in 2005, and BYU's Rafael Araujo and UNLV's Marcus Banks were selected in the first round in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Giddens, a 6-5 guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., led New Mexico to a 24-9 record and was named Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year during the 2007-08 season. He averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds last season, becoming the first guard to ever lead the MWC in rebounding. Giddens was the only player in the Conference to rank in the top-10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, assists, steals and blocks. He also led the league in scoring (18.3 ppg) and rebounds (8.3) in conference games. Plaisted is BYU's 44th NBA Draft selection and the first Cougar underclassman chosen since Shawn Bradley in 1993. The 6-11, San Antonio, Texas, native, averaged 15.6 and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, including averages of 20.6 points and 12.3 rebounds against top-10 competition. Plaisted was a three-time All-MWC player and helped BYU to a 27-8 record, the second-most wins in school history.
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