Introduction to the NBA Players from Saint Mary’s
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. Every year, the NBA Draft selects the best college players from around the world and brings them together to compete in the league.
Saint Mary’s College of California is a private, Catholic university located in Moraga, California. It is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the world. Over the years, Saint Mary’s has produced some of the greatest basketball players in the NBA. In this article, we’ll look at what NBA players went to Saint Mary’s, and examine their achievements in the league.
Omri Casspi
Omri Casspi is an Israeli professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Casspi played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2009.
During his tenure at Saint Mary’s, Casspi helped the Gaels win their first-ever West Coast Conference tournament title in 2008. He was also named WCC Freshman of the Year in 2007 and was a two-time All-WCC selection.
Matthew Dellavedova
Matthew Dellavedova is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dellavedova played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2012.
During his college career, Dellavedova helped the Gaels win three West Coast Conference titles and was a three-time All-WCC selection. He was also named West Coast Conference Tournament MVP in 2012 and was the first player in Saint Mary’s history to be named First Team All-American.
Brad Waldow
Brad Waldow is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. He was undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Golden State Warriors. Waldow played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2015.
During his college career, Waldow was a two-time All-WCC selection. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team for two consecutive years and was the first player in Saint Mary’s history to be named WCC Player of the Year.
James Walker III
James Walker III is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League. He was undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Walker played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
During his college career, Walker was a two-time All-WCC selection and was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2017. He was also the first player in Saint Mary’s history to be named WCC Defensive Player of the Year.
Jock Landale
Jock Landale is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He was undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Atlanta Hawks. Landale played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2018.
During his college career, Landale was a two-time All-WCC selection and was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2018. He was also the first player in Saint Mary’s history to be named WCC Player of the Year since Dellavedova in 2012.
Evan Fitzner
Evan Fitzner is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. He was undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Brooklyn Nets. Fitzner played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Most Improved Player of the Year in 2019.
During his college career, Fitzner was a two-time All-WCC selection and was the first player in Saint Mary’s history to be named WCC Most Improved Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team in 2018 and 2019.
Jordan Ford
Jordan Ford is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. He was undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Kings. Ford played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2020.
During his college career, Ford was a two-time All-WCC selection and was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2020. He was also the first player in Saint Mary’s history to be named WCC Player of the Year since Landale in 2018.
Notable Alumni
In addition to the aforementioned players, Saint Mary’s has produced several other NBA players over the years. These include:
Tom Meschery
Tom Meschery is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the San Francisco Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1961 NBA Draft by the Warriors. Meschery played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named All-Pacific Coast Conference in 1960.
Gerald Lee
Gerald Lee is a Finnish professional basketball player who currently plays for the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lee played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named All-West Coast Conference in 2009.
Daniel Kickert
Daniel Kickert is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). He was undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft, but was later signed by the Denver Nuggets. Kickert played college basketball at the Saint Mary’s Gaels, where he was named All-West Coast Conference in 2006.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Saint Mary’s College of California has produced some of the greatest basketball players in the NBA. From Omri Casspi to Jordan Ford, each of these players has achieved great success in the league and has made a lasting impact on the sport.
While Saint Mary’s may not be as well-known as other universities in terms of producing NBA talent, it has certainly made its mark in the basketball world. As we look to the future, we can only hope that more talented players will come out of Saint Mary’s and make their mark in the NBA.