Loyola, NIU: Sometimes, being small in basketball isn`t so bad.
Monday, Loyola guard Keith Gailes and Northern Illinois forward Donnell Thomas-two outstanding performers but far from NBA first-round draft material- were selected in the first round of the World Basketball League draft for players 6 feet 5 inches or under.
Gailes was the No. 2 pick behind North Carolina State guard Chris Corchiani. Gailes was selected by Dayton, and Thomas went to Youngstown as the seventh pick.
”I was playing ball and one of the coaches came out and told me the Youngstown coach was on the phone and that I had been picked in the first round,” said Thomas. ”I said `This is a joke, right?
”I`ve watched (the league) on SportsChannel and thought to myself, `This is something I can play.` I`m very interested in playing, but I have to finish school first.”
Gailes` Loyola teammate, Keir Rogers, was selected 35th by Florida. Rogers redshirted this season.
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