June 29, 2007

Young looking forward to reunion with Arenas
Wizards take former Trojan in 1st round.
By K.J.M. SINGLETON and ROBERT KUWADA
The Orange County Register

Nick Young already learned from the father. Now, he'll get tutorials from the son.

Young, coached by Gilbert Arenas Sr. in AAU ball while in high school, learned Thursday night at the NBA draft that he'll play alongside Gilbert Arenas Jr.

Arenas' Washington Wizards selected the former USC guard with the 16 th pick in the first round.

"In high school, Gilbert's dad coached us," Young said. "We have a true connection, and when I came up to Washington it felt like home. It just so happened that I ended up here."

Young became the first Trojan selected in the first round since Rodrick Rhodes went 24th to Houston in 1997.

"Any shooter that plays next to Gilbert (Arenas) is going to get a lot of shots, so that is going to help his progress," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. "He is also a good athlete and can get his own shot. He needs to learn to play the pro-style game, but I think he has a great future."

Young was second in the Pac-10 in scoring last season (17.5 ppg.) and showed an ability to score from anywhere on the court (44 percent three-point shooting).

Young's backcourt mate at USC, Gabe Pruitt, was selected 32nd by the Boston Celtics, who traded one of their point guards, Delonte West, in a blockbuster deal with Seattle.

Pruitt was the Trojans' third-leading scorer last season (12.5) and led the team in assists (4.3).

PERFECT PISTON

Arron Afflalo was confident that he would be a first-round selection in the NBA draft, sure enough that he made last-minute plans to get to New York. He had built a strong résumé at UCLA and had what he felt were solid workouts for eight teams in the league.

But when he was drafted in the first round, it came as a shock.

The Bruins shooting guard went as the 27th selection to the Detroit Pistons — a team that he had not worked out for this year or last, when he had declared for the draft before returning to school for his junior season and another run at the Final Four. He had not had so much as a phone conversation with anyone from Detroit.

To the sturdy Afflalo, though, he could not be joining a better program.

"I used to watch the early- and late-'80s Lakers, so I know a lot about Detroit Pistons basketball history, the time period Joe Dumars was in there, and I watch them now," said Afflalo, who as a junior at UCLA was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. "I just really appreciate the way they play together and play to win.

"You talk about Detroit Pistons basketball, the first thing that comes to mind is mental and physical toughness and the desire to get better, and I think those are my strongest qualities."

Afflalo was able to secure a guaranteed contract, which was a question when he announced his decision.

As the 27th selection, Afflalo is guaranteed more than $1.6 million over his first two years.

"I wasn't so worried about it, honestly," he said. "I know my work ethic, and I know who I am as a person and what I'll be as a basketball player one day. I'm just glad this opportunity happened."

NOTES

Former Mater Dei standout D.J. Strawberry (Maryland) snuck into the back of the second round, going 59th to Phoenix. ... Bobby Brown, Cal State Fullerton's career scoring leader, was not drafted.