Nov. 2, 2006
GREENVILLE, S.C. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Former UCF men's basketball star Dexter Lyons was selected by the Idaho Stampede in the third round of the NBA Development League Draft on Thursday evening. Lyons, who starred for the Golden Knights from 2002-04, was the 33rd overall pick in the draft.
As a senior in 2003-04, Lyons guided UCF to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 18.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He earned Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a first-team all-league selection.
The small forward shot 50.1 from the floor and 44.4 percent from 3-point range that season and was named the A-Sun Tournament MVP after leading head coach Kirk Speraw's squad to the championship title. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Pittsburgh, Lyons scored 12 points.
The D-League features 12 teams and serves to develop talent for the National Basketball Association's 30 squads. Last season, 18 players were called-up from the D-League to the NBA.
Only players signed to a D-League standard player contract were eligible for the draft. Several former NBA players, including Eddie Robinson, Troy Bell and Frank Williams, were picked in the 10-round, 120-pick draft.
Before attending UCF, Lyons spent two years at Daytona Beach Community College.
Last year, Lyons played professionally in Turkey. After graduating from UCF, the College Park, Ga. native spent the 2004-05 season in Holland.
Lyons is no stranger to the NBA system. He played in the 2005 Reebok Vegas Summer League with the Orlando Magic. The previous year, he participated in the Pepsi Pro Summer League with the Boston Celtics.
Based in Boise, the Stampede are in their first season in the D-League. Idaho opens the 2006-07 campaign on Friday, Nov. 24 at home versus Colorado.