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CJ grad Brown may be a 2nd-round draft steal

Bobcats officials, who picked the former CJ and XU star, expected him to go much higher.

Charlotte Bobcats draft picks Gerald Henderson, left, and Chaminade Julienne grad Derrick Brown, right, hold up jerseys during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, June 26, 2009. Henderson was selected 12th overall and Brown 40th overall in the draft by the basketball team.

Associated Press photo by Chuck Burton Charlotte Bobcats draft picks Gerald Henderson, left, and Chaminade Julienne grad Derrick Brown, right, hold up jerseys during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, June 26, 2009. Henderson was selected 12th overall and Brown 40th overall in the draft by the basketball team.

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer Updated 2:37 AM Saturday, June 27, 2009

Former Chaminade Julienne High School star Derrick Brown is a human dunking machine. The man can sky.

But he enters the NBA the same way he entered Xavier University — flying under the radar.

Projected as a late first-round pick, Brown waited 3½ hours for his name to be called in the 2009 NBA draft at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday night, June 25.

The Charlotte Bobcats finally tapped the 6-foot-8, 230-pound small forward with the 10th pick in the second round — the 40th overall selection — after taking Duke guard Gerald Henderson at No. 12 in the first round.

“He could be a steal,” analyst Jay Bilas said of Brown during ESPN’s draft telecast. “This young man can play. I think he could be very valuable to the team.”

Michael Jordan, the Bobcats’ managing member of basketball operations; head coach Larry Brown; and General Manager Rod Higgins feel the same way about Brown.

“Our scouts had him 20th on our board,” Larry Brown told the Charlotte media. “We brought him back for a second workout so Rod (Higgins) and Michael (Jordan) could see him again.

“Now, we have a young backup three (small forward). He’s long. He can handle it, and he can shoot it a little bit. We got two character kids. It is keeping with what we were hoping for. We had no idea to expect him to be there.”

Higgins believes Brown can develop into a power forward, an area of need for the Bobcats, who finished the 2008-09 season with a 35-47 record.

“I think Derrick Brown is going to be a guy that can be versatile enough with our system, as he gets stronger, to maybe play some of that position,” Higgins said. “Probably not early, but you also have to remember that we have free agency around the corner, so we can address a need that way as well.”

The Derrick Brown file

NBA Draft: Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 10th pick in the second round (No. 40 overall).

Position: Small forward.

Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 230.

Birthday: Sept. 8, 1987.

High School: Chaminade Julienne.

College: Xavier.

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Not sure he did cost himself alot of money. From what I have read next years class is stronger and more talented, therefore more competitive. Good luck to DB he should do quite well.

Jer
11:08 AM, 6/27/2009

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IF Brown can improve his three point shot, he can be very effective in the NBA. I do think he cost himself alot of money by leaving early, he could have went top 15 next year. UD fans could not be happier.

get real
8:28 AM, 6/27/2009

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