Three C-USA Men's Basketball Players Selected in NBA Draft

Francisco Garcia

Former Louisville guard Francisco Garcia and Cincinnati forward Jason Maxiell were both chosen in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons, respectively. Another first team All-Conference USA selection, Marquette guard Travis Diener was selected in the second round by the Orlando Magic.

Garcia, who helped the Cardinals reach the 2005 NCAA Final Four, was the 23rd selection overall. He became the Cardinals' second first-round pick in the last two years. Reece Gaines, who ranks fourth on the Cardinals career scoring list with 1,945 points and is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks, was the 15th selection overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2003 NBA Draft. Garcia was honored on the NABC All-America second team and was named to the John R. Wooden All-America team as a junior in leading the Cardinals to a 33-5 record, U of L's eighth Final Four appearance and a Conference USA regular season and tournament championship. He averaged a team-leading 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals while earning first team All-Conference USA honors, was a member of the Conference USA All-Decade team and was the USBWA District 4 Player of the Year.

A two-time all-conference selection, Maxiell was the No. 26 pick overall. He became the ninth Bearcat selected in the NBA Draft in the last nine years and the fifth first round selection from UC since 1993. He averaged 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds last season while leading Cincinnati to a 25-8 record, earning first team All-District 10 and second team All-Conference USA honors. Noted for his defensive play, Maxiell led C-USA in blocked shots, averaging 2.8 per game, and ranked No. 18 nationally. His 91 blocked shots was the second-highest UC single season total.

Diener was the No. 8 pick in the second round and the 38th selection overall. Diener joins former teammate Dwyane Wade as players selected during Tom Crean’s tenure at MU, and becomes just the sixth MU player to be selected in the league’s annual draft since 1990. Diener led the Golden Eagles in scoring (19.7 ppg), assists (7.0 apg) and steals (1.4 spg), and was second on the team in three-point field goals with 68 in 2005. He finished his career ranked first all-time at the school in three-point field goals (284), second all-time in assists (617) and third in scoring with 1,691. Diener was 83 points shy from breaking the school’s 35-year old scoring record held by George Thompson, and needed 16 assists to become Conference USA’s all-time leader, before suffering a season-ending injury in mid-February. An honorable mention All-American and Conference USA All-Decade selection, Diener was recognized nationally as a finalist for the Cousy and Bayer Senior CLASS awards, as well being selected as a mid-season candidate for both the Naismith and Wooden Awards.