2003 NBA Draft

The Miami HEAT selected 6'4", 210-pound guard Dwyane Wade from Marquette University with the fifth pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. Wade was Miami's highest draft pick since the HEAT selected Steve Smith with the fifth pick of the 1991 NBA Draft and the highest draftee in school history.

"To sum up the evening, at least for us, we feel like we have one of the best players in the draft, if not the best," said HEAT President and Head Coach Pat Riley. "He is one of the most mature guys that I have ever met and he is from a great college program. What I was most impressed by when I really studied him, aside from him being a great defender, is his explosiveness and ability to get to the rim and score. We are excited about him and feel like he is going to be a great asset and a great player for us."

Wade, who played collegiately for two seasons before becoming an early entry candidate after his junior year, became the first Marquette player since 1978 to be named a First Team All-American by the Associated Press. He also earned a spot on the Wooden Award All-America team and was one of five finalists for the Wooden Award after helping lead the Golden Eagles to the 2003 Final Four, the school's first appearance since 1977. Wade finished his career ranked 20th on Marquette's all-time scoring list with 1,281 points and also ranked ninth on both the school's all-time steals list (150) and all-time blocks list (79).

In addition to garnering consensus First Team All-America honors, he was named the Conference USA Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All Conference USA during the 2002-03 season. Wade led Conference USA and ranked 22nd nationally in scoring (21.5 ppg) and set a Marquette single-season scoring record with 710 points. He also ranked second in the league in steals (2.15 spg), eighth in assists (4.4 apg), 10th in field goal percentage (.501) and 11th in free throw percentage (.779). The Chicago, IL native also averaged 6.3 rebounds, 1.30 blocks and 32.1 minutes while leading the Golden Eagles to a 27-6 record. Wade capped an outstanding junior year by being named the MVP of the Midwest Regional Final compiling 51 points, 15 assists a nd 14 rebounds in victories over Pittsburgh and Kentucky. In the victory over Kentucky, which vaulted the Golden Eagles into the Final Four and ended the Wildcats' 26-game winning streak, Wade registered Marquette's first triple-double since 1994 when he totaled 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in an 83-69 victory. On 21 occasions during the 2002-03 season he scored 20 or more points, including a 35-point effort at Tulane on Jan. 14 which tied his career high. At the team's postseason banquet, Wade showed his versatility by receiving the Most Valuable Player Award, the Hank Raymond Sportsmanship Award, the Bart Miller Standard of Excellence Award (combines the qualities of the ultimate team player - selflessness, hard work and loyalty, with those excellence in the classroom) and the Deflection King Award.

As a sophomore during the 2001-02 campaign, Wade earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press and First Team All Conference USA honors. He led the Golden Eagles in scoring (17.8 ppg, 8th in C-USA), rebounding (6.6 rpg) and steals (2.47 spg, 1st in C-USA). On nine occasions he scored 20 or more points, including a career-high 35 against conference rival DePaul.

Wade is the fourth Marquette player to be selected in the first-round of the NBA Draft joining Dean Meminger (1971 by New York), Bo Ellis (1977 by Washington) and Butch Lee (1978 by Atlanta). Prior to Wade, Lee had been MU's highest draftee being tabbed 10th overall in 1978.


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