Jul 10, 2008 5:04 pm US/Central
San Antonio Spurs Introduce Draft Picks
SAN ANTONIO (AP) ―
The Spurs introduced their draft picks on Thursday, led by a guard from Indianapolis that San Antonio selected in the first round.
George Hill, a 6-foot-2 guard from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, said he's going to get to learn from the best in San Antonio.
The Spurs, who failed to defend their 2007 NBA title and fell to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals, took Hill with the 26th overall pick. He went a little earlier than some expected, but he says coach Gregg Popovich won't be sorry.
"It makes you want to work harder because he thinks that highly of you," Hill told reporters. "So that's why I'm just going to come in here and work my tail off and accomplish everything that he wants me to accomplish. And listen, take criticism or whatever it is. Fill the shoes that he wants me to fill."
The 22-year-old averaged 21.5 points a game last season for IUPUI. He was a redshirt junior last season after playing only five games his junior season after breaking his foot in the second game of the season.
Hill, who said he can play shooting guard or at the point, said he doesn't think he could be in a better situation than the one he has now.
"It says a lot to me that they took me in the first (round)," he said. "I think that I worked hard enough to go in the first. I don't think it was a bad idea to take me in the first."
Hill impressed during pre-draft camp in Orlando.
"George Hill is a really solid player at both ends of the court. He adds to our team and I honestly believe he'll make our team better right off the bat," Popovich said on draft night in late June. "We really thought he'd be gone. We were thrilled that he was there" at No. 26.
The Spurs also acquired the draft rights to Malik Hairston, who was picked 48th overall by the Phoenix Suns; Golden State's 2009 second-round pick; and cash in exchange for the draft rights to Goran Dragic, whom the Spurs picked 45th overall.
Hairston, a 6-6 guard-forward, averaged a team-high 16.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in his senior year with Oregon. The 21-year-old got honorable mention All-Pac 10 honors his sophomore and senior seasons.
Hairston called going to the Spurs "a blessing" and said he think his desire for victory could work well in San Antonio.
"I think that's why I might be a great fit in San Antonio, because they love to win," Hairston said.
Finally, with the 57th overall selection, the Spurs picked James Gist, a 6-9 forward for Maryland.
In his senior year, 21-year-old Gist was named to the All-ACC Second Team and ACC All-Defensive Team after averaging 15.9 points and 7.9 rebounds.
All three will play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and the Rocky Mountain Revue Salt Lake City.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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