Even the Mid-American Conference slips into the NBA draft sometimes. Since 1947, 147 players from the MAC have been selected in the draft, according to RealGm.com
Out of those 147 players, 19 of them hail from Ohio University. The 1970s were a great time for former Ohio players, as the program saw eight of its former players drafted during the decade.
The 2017 NBA draft will air June 22 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. And though no Ohio players are likely to be selected this year, the program has still produced some solid prospects.
Gary Trent: 1995, Round 1, No. 11 overall – Milwaukee Bucks traded to Portland Trail Blazers
They called him “The Shaq of the MAC.” Gary Trent, the highest selected Bobcat ever in the NBA draft, was a classic big man. He banged under the basket for rebounds, bruising his way to No. 3 on Ohio’s all-time rebounds list (1,050).
Trent was a three-time MAC Player of The Year, winning the award from 1993-1995. He boasted career averages of 22.7 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game, while shooting a career 57.3 percent from the field.
The Bucks drafted Trent, but they traded him to the Trail Blazers. Trent played in the NBA for nine years, totaling 8.6 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game in his career. Along with the Blazers, Trent also played for the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dave Jamerson: 1990, Round 1, No. 15 overall – Miami Heat traded to Houston Rockets
Trent is the highest selected Bobcat ever in the draft, but Dave Jamerson isn’t far behind at 15. The program’s all-time leading scorer, Jamerson is one of the most offensively gifted players Ohio has seen.
A true scorer, Jamerson simply was going to get buckets. Jamerson scored 2,336 points in his career and erupted in his senior season, averaging 31.2 points per game while winning the MAC Player of The Year. Along with his scoring, Jamerson was also known for his shooting ability; he shot a career 41.9 percent from the 3-point line.
The Heat drafted Trent at No. 15, but he was traded to the Rockets. Jamerson played in the NBA for three years, also playing for the Utah Jazz and then-New Jersey Nets during his career.
Walter Luckett: 1975, Round 2, No. 27 overall – Detroit Pistons
He was on the cover of “Sports Illustrated’s” college basketball preview issue in November 1972, and his nickname was “Put it in the Bucket.” Walter Luckett is a member of Bobcat folklore, his retired No. 34 jersey hanging in the rafters of The Convo.
Luckett played for the Bobcats from 1973-1975, and he was the program’s second All-American; Frank Baumholtz, who played from 1939-1941, was the first. Luckett sits at No. 10 on the program’s all-time scoring list, putting 1,625 points in the bucket during his career.
Though the Pistons took Luckett in the 1975 NBA draft, he had other suitors. The ABA didn’t merge with the NBA until 1976, so the Memphis Sounds took him in the fifth round of the ABA draft. Luckett was never able to play in the NBA because of arthritis in his left knee.
Brandon Hunter: 2003, Round 2, No. 56 overall – Boston Celtics
The most recent Bobcat to be picked in the draft, Brandon Hunter had a solid career at Ohio.
Hunter is the program’s all-time leading rebounder, grabbing 1,103 rebounds during his career. Hunter played for the Bobcats from 1999-2003, posting career averages of 16.9 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. His senior year was his best season, as he averaged 21.5 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game.
The Celtics took Hunter in the second round of the 2003 draft, but his NBA career didn’t last long. Hunter played in the league for two seasons, playing for the Orlando Magic in his last season.
Honorable mention – Maurice Ndour: Undrafted in 2015, New York Knicks
Though he went undrafted in 2015, Maurice Ndour is the only former Bobcat currently in the NBA. The New York Knicks signed him as an undrafted free agent after the draft. Last summer, the Knicks signed Ndour to a two-year guaranteed contract.
A native of Senegal, Ndour showed growing potential during his career at Ohio. He played for the Bobcats from 2013-2015, after previously playing at Monroe College in New York. During his final season at Ohio, Ndour averaged 16.0 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Ndour showed his potential in pockets this past NBA season. While playing in 32 games, he started in four of them. Ndour averaged 10.3 minutes per game this past season.
