McClinton Selected by San Antonio Spurs in 2009 NBA Draft
June 26, 2009
CORAL GABLES, FLA. – Former University of Miami guard Jack McClinton (Baltimore, Md.) was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 51st pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, held in Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday evening.
McClinton becomes the 17th Hurricane overall and the fourth since 2002 to be selected in the NBA Draft. Guillermo Diaz was the last Hurricane taken in the draft, picked 52nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2006.
The Spurs, four-time NBA Champions in a nine-year span from 1999 to 2007, also selected Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair with the 37th pick of the 2009 NBA draft. McClinton joins fellow ACC alumni Tim Duncan (Wake Forest) and Roger Mason (Virginia) on the San Antonio Roster
“I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to play for a great organization like San Antonio”, said McClinton. “I’ve worked for this my whole life and appreciate all the support from my family, coaches and former teammates. I am very excited for this next chapter and look forward to playing for Coach Popovich and the Spurs.”
Miami’s first two-time All-ACC First Team selection, McClinton led the Hurricanes in scoring for three-straight seasons – including 19.3 points per game as a senior in 2008-09. He wrapped up his career as the ACC’s most proficient three-point shooter, converting a league-best 44.0 percent over his career, while averaging 3.01 treys per game – the fifth-highest average in conference history.
McClinton, winner of the three-point contest at the 21st Annual College Slam Dunk and Three Point Championships in April, scored a career-high 38 points in the 2008 NCAA Tournament first round win over St. Mary’s (Calif.) and posted three-straight 30-point games as a senior versus Wake Forest (32), Duke (34) and North Carolina (35), becoming the first Hurricane to finish with 30-plus points in three-straight games in 20 years.
McClinton, who participated in the 2009 NBA pre-draft combine in Chicago and worked out for approximately half of the NBA’s teams, closed his collegiate career with a UM-best 35-game three-point streak – including hitting a career-high tying seven treys versus North Carolina and at Providence – and holds the Miami records for career three-pointers (286), single-season three-pointers (101 in 2008-09), three-point field goal percentage in a game (1.000) and career three-point field goal percentage (.440).
John Salmons was the last Miami player selected in the first round, with the 26th pick in the 2002 draft by the San Antonio Spurs.
