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Hargrave's Alexander, Speights selected first round in NBA draft
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 9:22 AM EDT
The 2008 National Basketball Association draft included two former cadets at Hargrave Military Academy who were first-round picks.
West Virginia University's Joe Alexander and the University of Florida's Marreese Speights are Hargrave's latest contributions to the NBA.
Alexander, a college junior, was selected No. 8 overall in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Alexander's NBA selection comes after a three-year collegiate career at West Virginia.
After playing just 10 games in his freshman season, the 21-year-old Alexander logged back-to-back 36-game seasons during his sophomore and junior years, averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists during that time.
He earned first team All-Big East honors during the 2007-08 season and was named an honorable mention All-American by The Associated Press.
Alexander helped lead the 10th-seeded Mountaineers to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, including a second round upset over second-seeded Duke.
Alexander attended Hargrave and played on the Academy's 2004-2005 Post-Graduate (PG) basketball team prior to signing with West Virginia.
The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Speights as the 16th selection in the first round. Speights is a University of Florida sophomore.
As a Florida freshman, he came off the bench in 33 games and averaged just over four points per game.
He had good stats as a sophomore, (14.5 ppg, 8.1 rebounds), but not good enough for the 76ers' team management to believe he will be a major contributor next season.
The 76ers look for Speights to eventually play the power forward and center positions. He averaged 1.4 blocks per game in his final collegiate season, showing the 76ers promise that he could turn into a solid defender as well.
Speights played on Hargrave's 2005/2006 Post-Graduate basketball team prior to signing with the University of Florida.
Alexander and Speights join the elite ranks of other former Hargrave players who have joined the NBA. This includes Lonny Baxter, Houston Rockets; Brian Chase, Miami Heat; Sharrod Ford, Phoenix Suns; Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks; James Thomas, Philadelphia 76ers; and David West, New Orleans Hornets.
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