Nov. 8, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Former UCF men's basketball standout Dave Noel was selected by the Reno Bighorns in the eighth round of the National Basketball Association D-League Draft late Friday evening. Noel, who earned All-Conference USA Defensive Team honors a year ago, played for the Knights from 2005-08.
Reno, an expansion franchise, tabbed Noel with the seventh selection of the eighth round. Overall, 160 players were drafted on Friday night.
The D-League is the official development league of the NBA and features 16 teams. Sixty former D-League players began the 2008-09 campaign on NBA rosters.
One of the best defensive players in school history, Noel was a key component to UCF's successful transition to Conference USA. In three seasons at UCF after transferring from UNC-Wilmington, the 6-foot-3 Noel averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 boards while shooting 50.1 percent overall. He concluded his career fourth all-time in free-throw percentage (81.2).
As a senior in 2007-08, he ranked second on the team, averaging 13.3 points per game. He scored in double-figures 25 times. Noel led C-USA in 3-point field goal percentage (45.5) and also grabbed 4.2 boards per game. Following the regular season, he was named to the league's all-defensive squad, becoming the first Knight to receive the honor.
Noel is the second former UCF player to be selected in the D-League Draft. In 2006, the Idaho Stampede tabbed Dexter Lyons in the third round. Lyons played for head coach Kirk Speraw's Knights from 2002-04.
Reno is one of two expansion teams in the league this season. The Bighorns will open their inaugural campaign on Nov. 29, hosting the Bakersfield Jam.
Noel is no stranger to Reno. Last season, the Knights played Nevada in Reno. He totaled 20 points and a pair of steals against the Wolf Pack.
Speraw's team will open the 2008-09 regular season on Nov. 16, hosting North Carolina A&T at the UCF Arena. Season tickets are currently available. To order your season tickets today, and to learn more about the Fastbreak Club and other premium seating options, call (407) UCF-1000.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.