Wojcik's Eager for Thursday's NBA Draft

Originally Published: Jun 22, 2010 5:37 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma -- When looking back at his time on the University of Tulsa hardwood, former Golden Hurricane sharp-shooter Ben Uzoh said he gave the coaching staff “a lot of credit” for his success in basketball.

Here and now, that’s exactly what his head coach hoped he would say.

“It feels great,” Tulsa head coach Doug Wojcik said Tuesday, just two days before the NBA Draft. “Selfishly, you want both guys to get drafted and play the NBA and I think they both will eventually.”

Uzoh and Jerome Jordan have a shot at being the first pair of Tulsa basketball teammates to get drafted in the first two rounds in the same season. One of the latest mock drafts put out by ESPN draft authority Chad Ford had Jordan going to the Milwaukee Bucks 47th overall, followed by Uzoh 57th overall to the Indiana Pacers.

“What does that mean? I don’t know, but it means something,” said Wojcik. “It would mean everything (if they both got drafted). Minus the NCAA tournament, so far, we’ve done everything that we’re supposed to do in terms of developing young men for their dreams of playing in the NBA.”

Jordan didn’t dominate the way many around Conference USA expected him to during preseason projections. Jordan averaged 15.4 points per game and set the school and league records for blocks in a career as a senior.

“As people get to know Jerome, his skill set is very, very high,” Wojcik explained. “I just don’t think you find seven footers with a left hand and a right hand. He really can face the basket and shoot from 3-point range.”

Uzoh proved to be a more-than-capable slasher. The guard attacked the rim with ease and kept defenders honest from the 3-point line, shooting over 34 percent from behind the arc. His ability to lead a team is attractive to NBA executives.

“He would never be considered for the NBA if it were not for the point (guard) position,” said Wojcik. “He’s not 6-foot-7. He’s a point guard. He can initiate a team. He can come off a ball screen. With is size, athleticism and strength, he’s a pretty good prospect.”

Wojcik and his current Golden Hurricane players will gather at his house Thursday night to watch the draft, all crossing their fingers that Uzoh and Jordan will be on their way to a new home. He hopes this isn’t the last party of its kind.

“It’s great for our team, future prospects, future recruits and current players,” he said. “It’s motivating for everybody involved.”

The NBA draft is scheduled to being at 6 p.m. on ESPN.