Issue date: 6/29/09 Section: Sports

Former Aggie center Chinemelu Elonu drives to the basket against Tarleton State. Elonu was selected 59th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. [Click to enlarge]

Thursday's NBA draft saw considerable activity for the NBA as a whole, but especially for Texas, as the three Texas teams acquired a number of rookies. The biggest news concerning Texas A&M came as former Aggie center Chinemelu Elonu was selected with the second-to-last pick of the draft by the 2008-2009 national champion Los Angeles Lakers.

"I was getting a little nervous when there were only a couple of picks left, but I decided early in the night to just leave it all in God's hands," Elonu said. "I was with a lot of friends and family and they gave me a lot of support. It's an honor to be drafted by the NBA champions. I think I can learn a lot from their big men and become a better player. It's also exciting to have a chance to play for a great coach like Phil Jackson. I just want to thank everyone at A&M for all they did for me and for making this possible."

Elonu was an honorable mention All-Big 12 player last season, averaging 9.8 points and a team best 7.3 rebounds and 53 blocked shots. He was named the Big 12's most improved player for the progress he made between his sophomore and junior years. The selection of Elonu by the Lakers means that former Aggies have been selected in four of the last five drafts. A&M has had more players selected over the past three years than any other Big 12 team.

In addition to Elonu, the Big 12 had four selections, with Oklahoma's Blake Griffin taken first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. Missouri's DeMarre Carroll was selected 27 by Memphis. Oklahoma's Taylor Griffin, Blake Griffin's brother, was selected 48 overall by Phoenix. The Big 12 has had a player selected in the top two picks each of the last four years, more than any other conference.

"I'm not worried about what's happened in the past," Griffin said of the Clippers' history to Soonersports.com. "I'm only looking forward to the future. We're not going think about what's happened in seasons past. We're just excited about the opportunity and going to make the best out of whatever situation we're put in."

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