AMHERST, N.Y. - Former Daemen College men's basketball players Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) and Uchechi Ogbonna (Hicksville, N.Y./Erie CC) were each selected in the third round of yesterday's National Basketball Association (NBA) Development League (D-League) Draft. Beverly, a 6-foot-7 power forward, was selected with the third pick in the round, No. 47 overall, by the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Ogbonna, a 6-foot-5 small forward, was taken just six picks later by the Texas Legends.
Beverly, who led the Wildcats to an 89-24 record from 2011-15, racked up 1,799 points and 1,004 rebounds in his career here, becoming just the second player in team history to top 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He also left as the Wildcats' all-time leader in blocked shots (330) while ranking fifth in career scoring and second in career rebounding. A two-time first-team All-East Coast Conference pick, Beverly also garnered ECC Defensive Player of the Year honors in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. As a senior, Beverley averaged 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds while leading Daemen to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I national title in the team's final year of non-eligibility for NCAA Division II postseason play. Beverly was the USCAA Division I Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player at the USCAA National Championships that season.
Beverly spent last season playing professionaly in Germany for Telekom Baskets. He joins an L.A. D-fenders team which went 27-23 last season, finishing in second place of the D-League's Pacific Division. The D-Fenders are the official farm club of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers with 23 call-ups in franchise history. The D-Fenders are coached by Coby Karl, a former NBA and overseas professional player, and son of longtime NBA coach George Karl.
"I am very excited and thankful to be drafted and a part of the L.D. D-Fenders organization," Beverly said. "I cannot wait for training camp, and I'm thankful for all the help and guidance from friends and family along the way. But, there's still work to be done."
Ogbonna played two seasons (2012-14) for the Wildcats after transferring from Erie Community College. In that time, he helped the Daemen to a 48-13 overall record, including a 17-3 mark in the team's first season as a member of the East Coast Conference, capturing the league title that season (2013-14). Over 50 career games for Daemen, Ogbonna made 26 starts and averaged 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. His best season came as a senior when he shot 55-percent from the field (123-for-222) and averaged 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per outing.
Ogbonna last played professionally during the 2014-15 season in El Salvador for CD Aguila. He joins the Texas Legends franchise which is the official farm club for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. The Legends went 23-27 last season, finishing in third place in the D-League's Southwest Division. Texas is coached by veteran D-League bench boss Bob MacKinnon.
"God is Great. I've been praying hard and working hard, and I'm really looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity," Ogbonna said. "I'd like to thank my family, my close friends and the Daemen College community for their support throughout this whole process."
Both Beverly and Ogbonna will depart today to report to their respective team training camps which begin this week. The D-League season officially tips off on Friday, November 11.
The NBA D-League is the official minor league of the NBA. Featuring 22 franchises - all with one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises - the NBA D-League prepares players, coaches, officials, trainers and front office staff for the NBA.
