Hokie ClubFormer Virginia Tech men’s basketball standout Deron Washington was the third player selected in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft Thursday night. Washington was selected by the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Washington was the final cut of the Detroit Pistons last month. He was a second round selection of the Pistons in the 2008 NBA Draft, but played professionally in Israel last season.
Washington is currently 17th in career scoring at Virginia Tech, with 1,408 points. He is also seventh in all-time blocked shots for the Hokies, with 115 and tenth in career steals, with 151 steals.
Washington was selected following Carlos Powell, formerly of the University of South Carolina, who was selected first by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. Interestingly enough, Powell was also the second pick in the 2007 D-League Draft. The second selection was Donell Taylor from UAB by the Erie BayHawks.
The NBA Development League is the top minor league in professional basketball and each team is affiliated with NBA teams. The Los Angeles D-Fenders are affiliated with the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers and play their home games in the Staples Center, home of the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
This is the second consecutive year that a former Hokie was a first round selection in the Draft, as Coleman Collins was selected by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the 2008 Draft.
Washington becomes the second former Hokie to play for the D-Fenders, as Brian Chase played for the LA team in the 2006-07 season. He was selected to the 2007 NBA D-League All-Star Game.
The D-Fenders begin their 2009-10 season on Nov. 28 at the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.