Dwyane Wade, the 2003 Conference USA Player of the Year, of Marquette, and fellow C-USA first team selection, Reece Gaines of Louisville are among the 13 players selected to attend the 2003 NBA Draft to be held Thursday, June 26 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Wade led Marquette to the first Final Four appearance by a Conference USA team this past season, and the school’s first time back to the event since winning the 1977 NCAA title under legendary coach Al McGuire. The Robbins, Ill., native led the league in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game. Wade garnered All-American honors from the Associated Press, the United States Basketball Writers Association, ESPN.com and by Collegeinsider.com. Wade posted the conference’s first triple-double since the 2000-01 season with a 29-point, 11-rebound and 11-assist effort in an 83-69 win over No. 1 Kentucky in the Midwest Regional final game. Marquette finished the year with a 27-6 overall mark (14-2 C-USA).

Gaines, an All-American selection by the Associated Press, ESPN.com, The Senior CLASS Award and by Collegeinsider.com, helped Louisville finish the 2002-03 campaign with a 25-7 overall record and a 11-5 ledger in C-USA play. The Cardinals also made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in two years after securing the automatic bid by capturing their first Conference USA Tournament title. The Madison, Wis., native averaged 17.9 points per game, third best in C-USA. Gaines also finished his Louisville career as the third leading all-time scorer in C-USA history with 1,945 points.

Wade and Gaines were finalists for the 2002-03 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy in addition to being on the Wooden Award Watch list.

The 2003 NBA Draft will air live on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. (EDT).

Conference USA Players in The NBA Draft

2002
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Dajuan Wagner, Memphis, Cleveland, 1st, 6th
Steve Logan, Cincinnati, Golden State, 2nd, 30th

2001
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Rodney White, Charlotte, Detroit Pistons, 1st, 9th
Steven Hunter, DePaul, Orlando Magic, 1st, 15th
Bobby Simmons, DePaul, Seattle Sonics, 2nd, 42nd
Alton Ford, Houston, Phoenix Suns, 2nd, 51st
Kenny Satterfield, Cincinnati, Dallas Mavericks, 2nd, 54th
Maurice Jeffers, Saint Louis, Sacramento Kings, 2nd, 55th

2000
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati, New Jersey Nets, 1st, 1st
DerMarr Johnson, Cincinnati, Atlanta Hawks, 1st, 6th
Quentin Richardson, DePaul, Los Angeles Clippers, 1st, 18th
Pete Mickeal Cincinnati, New York Knicks, 2nd, 58th

1999
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Galen Young, Charlotte, Milwaukee Bucks, 2nd, 48th
Melvin Levett, Cincinnati, Detroit Pistons, 2nd, 54th

1998
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Larry Hughes, Saint Louis, Philadelphia 76ers, 1st, 8th
Ruben Patterson, Cincinnati, Los Angeles Lakers, 2nd, 31st
DeMarco Johnson, Charlotte, New York Knicks, 2nd, 38th

1997
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Danny Fortson, Cincinnati, Milwaukee Bucks, 1st, 10th
Cedric Henderson, Memphis, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2nd, 45th
Chris Crawford, Marquette, Atlanta Hawks, 2nd, 51st
DeJuan Wheat, Louisville, Los Angeles Lakers, 2nd, 52nd

1996
Player, College, Pro Team, Round, Overall
Lorenzen Wright, Memphis, Los Angeles Clippers, 1st, 7th
Samaki Walker, Louisville, Dallas Mavericks, 1st, 9th