Richard Hendrix Is Happy With Draft

Richard Hendrix, who was a junior forward on the Alabama basketball team last season, was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the NBA Draft late Thursday night. He was the 49th pick overall in the draft. Hendrix gave up his final season of eligibility at Bama to enter the draft.

“As of right now I’m happy to be a Golden State Warrior,” said Richard Hendrix who was at his parents’ house in Athens Thursday night. “It was a very long night to find out where I’m going to be, but I’m happy to hear my name called. I’m excited. I’m glad I’m going to the Golden State Warriors. The name ‘Warrior’ is really what I think I am. I’m ready to go and give them what I have to offer.”

No guarantees go with being selected in the second round. The 49th spot was later than most had projected Hendrix, who was listed as a 6-9, 255-pound low post player in his junior with with the Crimson Tide. In NBA workouts it was determined he was actually a shade under 6-7.

Hendrix was an All-Southeastern Conference player in 2007-08. He was the only player in the SEC this past season to average a double-double in points and rebounding. He led Alabama with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds.

Prior to Thursday night, the last player from the University of Alabama drafted by the NBA was Jermareo Davidson in 2007. Davidson was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round as the 36th overall pick in The Draft. He was immediately traded to the Charlotte Bobcats where he played as a rookie this past season, giving the Tide two players on that team where Gerald Wallace also plays.

Alabama Basketball has produced 39 NBA players prior to Hendrix’s selection. Leon Douglas was the first Alabama player to become a first round draft pick. He was the fourth pick overall of the 1976 draft by the Detroit Pistons. Alabama has had 14 players drafted in the first round, the latest of those coming in 2001 when Gerald Wallace was the 24th overall pick and went in the first round to the Sacramento Kings. He starts for the Bobcats now. Alabama had five active players in the NBA in 2008, including Wallace and Davidson with Charlotte, Robert Horry with San Antonio, Antonio McDyess with Detroit and Mo Williams with Milwaukee. Horry, a first round pick by Houston in 1992, has won seven NBA World Championships with three different teams—the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston. He has made the playoffs in all 16 seasons he has played in the NBA.

Alabama Coach Mark Gottfried’s previous production of Crimson Tide players drafted into the NBA includes Wallace in 2001, Rod Grizzard to the Wizards in the 2nd round in 2002, Williams in the 2nd round to the Jazz in 2003 and Davidson in 2007.