June 3, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - With the National Basketball Association Draft set for June 26, much of the media coverage leading up the event has focused on the two potential top picks - forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State and guard Derrick Rose of Memphis. During the 2007-08 campaign, only four teams in the nation faced both of the freshmen stars. UCF was one of those squads.
In November, the Knights met Beasley and Kansas State at the Old Spice Classic in nearby Lake Buena Vista. Beasley totaled 30 points as the Wildcats held on for a 73-71 win in overtime.
UCF traveled to No. 1 Memphis for a Conference USA contest in February. Guard Mike O'Donnell and the Knights did a solid job defensively on Rose, as the point guard totaled 15 points in 28 minutes against the Knights. Kansas, Southern California and Texas also played both Kansas State and Memphis this past season.
UCF faced the toughest schedule in school history during the 2007-08 campaign. Ten of UCF's opponents were selected to play in the postseason, with four participating in the NCAA Tournament.
Last week, four players that competed against the Knights last year participated in the NBA's Pre-Draft Camp in Lake Buena Vista: Joey Dorsey (Memphis), Kentrell Gransberry (USF), Marcelus Kemp (Nevada) and Robert Vaden (UAB). Beasley, Rose and Nevada's JaVale McGee took part in skills, strength, agility and medical testing only.
Could UCF have a player compete at the pre-draft camp next year? Senior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) could potentially earn an invitation in 2009. This past season, Taylor ranked 23rd nationally in scoring at 20.8 points per game. Following the regular season, he garnered a spot on the All-C-USA Second Team.
Taylor ranks 13th all-time at UCF with 1,171 points. In 2007-08, his 646 points were the most scored by a UCF player in a single season since the program moved to the Division I ranks in 1985.
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