2003 NBA Draft Night

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Celtics announced that they have acquired the draft rights to UNLV's Marcus Banks and early entry candidate Kendrick Perkins in the 2003 NBA Draft. The Celtics selected Boston College's Troy Bell and Duke's Dahntay Jones with their 16th and 20th picks, respectively. Boston then sent those two picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Banks, who was drafted with the 13th pick, and Perkins, who was chosen with the 27th selection.

Banks, a 6-2, 220lb guard played the final two seasons of his collegiate career for UNLV's Running Rebels, averaging 18.1 points and 4.3 assists in 63 games. As a junior, Banks led the All-Mountain West Conference in steals and ranked sixth in scoring, on his way to earning Second Team All-MWC honors and MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

"Banks can play a slow type of game but his strength is speed," Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said. "That's why we got him, because of his quickness. He's a great defender and he's an explosive player in the open court."

As a senior, Banks averaged 20.3 points and 5.5 steals in 32 games, while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. He led the conference in assists and steals (7th in nation), and ranked second in scoring (36th in nation). He was named to the First Team All-Mountain West Conference squad and was Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Perkins, a 6-10, 285lb center was an early entry candidate in the 2003 NBA Draft, coming out of Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas. As a senior, Perkins averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds and 7.8 blocks per game. He led his high school to a 96-3 record over his final three seasons, earning All-State honors each year. He also captured four consecutive District Championships and won the state 4A title his sophomore season.

"Perkins is a young man with some upside," Ainge said. "We think he's a project for us. But we think he has a chance to be an excellent player in the league."

With the 56th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Celtics selected Ohio University's Brandon Hunter. The 6-7, 260lb forward averaged 16.9 points and 9.3 rebounds, while shooting 51.0 percent from the field in his four seasons for the Bobcats. As a senior, Hunter led the nation in rebounding (12.6 rpg) and was a three-time First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection.


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