The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Tucker selected No. 35 in 2006 NBA Draft by Toronto
06.28.2006 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK -- Former University of Texas basketball standout P.J. Tucker was selected as the No. 35 pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 2006 NBA Draft on Wednesday evening at Madison Square Garden.
Tucker becomes the second UT player selected in this year's draft, joining LaMarcus Aldridge who was picked No. 2 overall by Chicago and later traded to Portland. This marks the first time that the Longhorns have had two players selected in the same draft since 1994, when B.J. Tyler (No. 20, Philadelphia) and Albert Burditt (No. 53, Houston) had their names called.
"I'm extremely excited right now," Tucker said. "Things worked out how I thought they might heading in, and now I can focus on doing whatever is asked of me by Toronto. It's a great feeling to be fulfilling a lifelong dream."
Tucker is the ninth player in school history to be selected in the second round and the 32nd player overall taken since the NBA Draft began in 1947. He also is the seventh UT player to be drafted in the last eight years.
Tucker earned second-team All-America honors from The Associated Press and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year during the 2005-06 season. He led the team in scoring (16.1 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), steals (66) and minutes played (34.5 mpg).