It took almost three hours, but within one two minute span two former Mountaineers had their names called by NBA Deputy Comissioner Adam Silver and are on their way to opposite coasts. With the 42nd overall pick (12th pick of the 2nd Round) the Miami Heat selected Senior Da'Sean Butler. Immediately following, with the 43rd pick, early draft entrant Devin Ebanks was snapped up by the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.
↵It's great to see Butler get drafted -- with so much speculation about how his bum knee would affect his draft status, this has to be a win for him. To be drafted at all shows that league scouts know he can ball and expect a speedy recovery. Being selected so high just goes to show that he was a first round talent before his spill. He goes to a Miami Heat squad that is in flux as they prepare to play the Dwayne Wade/LeBron James Free Agency Lottery. It's too soon to tell what Butler's chances of making the team are, but once the free agent dominoes fall I think WVU's third leading scorer will find a place on the squad. His response to being drafted was appropriately enthusiastic.
↵Ebanks to Kobe's crew could prove to be beneficial for the WVU sophomore. With an established team already in place, Ebanks won't be counted on to play key minutes immediately and I can see him reprising his role as a defensive specialist. If Phil Jackson sticks around to coach next season, he could find himself with the best coach possible for dealing with a guy with, uh, mental focus issues.
↵It's the first time since 1983 that WVU has had two players selected in the same draft.