Nov. 4, 2005
Former Santa Clara University men's basketball standout Kyle Bailey was selected 17th overall by the Florida Flames in Thursday's National Basketball Association Development League draft.
Bailey, a native of Fairbanks, Alaska, was the first player taken in the 3rd round of the draft and one of three players overall from the West Coast Conference. He joins Saint Mary's College guards E.J. Rowland, a sixth round pick by Florida, and Paul Marigney, who was picked 71st overall by the Tulsa 66ers, in the draft.
"I'm really happy that Kyle has a chance to continue playing," said SCU head coach Dick Davey. "His experience with the San Antonio Spurs recently really encouraged him to keep working and to try to play in the D-League. This opportunity will help him continue to develop against players who are all trying to make it at the next level. I have every confidence that Kyle will give himself every possible chance to succeed."
After earning all-WCC honors twice during his career, Bailey graduated from Santa Clara with a degree in philosophy. He finished collegiate career as the eighth all-time leading scorer in Santa Clara history with 1,571 points and ranks as the school's all-time leader in games played (127), minutes played (3,897), and three-point field goal attempts (679).
Bailey arrived on the Mission campus in the fall of 2000 after a prep career at Lathrop High School. He was the Alaska state player of the year, was named Class 4A all-state twice and was a three-time all-conference selection.
The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up to the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Eleven (11) former D-League coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.
