Spurs Picks George Hill in 2008 NBA Draft; First-Ever NBA Draftee from IUPUI

In Indianapolis, basketball fans are pretty excited and proud about one player, George Hill. Although he may not have been on the radar screen for some, he certainly got noticed by the San Antonio Spurs recently, making it into the 26th pick position for the NBA draft. Indianapolis sports fans were abuzz with the news and proud of George Hill. For those who aren't yet acquainted with George Hill, here's a rundown of some basic facts about a player to watch in the coming season:

George Hill is the first American born player to be drafted in the first round since 1997 - and the first NBA draftee for IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis).

This is quite an honor for both Hill and IUPUI. Although the university has worked hard to create a solid basketball program, this is a sign that the hard work has paid off. Until now, George Hill was a relatively unknown point guard. But he still had plenty of accomplishments on the basketball court. He was a force to be reckoned with, something known by other players who met up with him, whether in Indianapolis or at away games.

Career highlights for George Hill have been plentiful, helping to grab the attention of the San Antonio Spurs recruiters

As a junior, Hill was named Summit Player of the Year and is fourth all-time high scorer in the school's history when it comes to scoring career points. He earned 1619 of those. He ranks ninth all-time in rebounds, seventh in assists and eighth in steals. He is expected to be a point guard in the NBA and has a reputation for being a strong player at both ends of the court.

Height: Six feet, two inches.

Weight: 180

Major skills and strengths: George Hill will be bringing speed, agility and a solid ability to get to the net quickly. He has a track record of handling and passing the basketball reliably and for being a superb team player, not hogging the limelight. After all, it took something to set him apart from the crowd and get a player at a relatively unknown university to get picked. Year after year, hill has managed to distinguish himself as a top player at IUPUI.

It hasn't been a totally smooth path for George Hill on his way to the Spurs

In his Junior year, he broke his foot. During the second season of the year, he was able to play only five games. He was granted a medical redshirt.

More lesser known details about George Hill:

His full name is George Jesse Hill, Jr. Before going to IUPUI, he attended Broad Ripple High School, located on the north side of Indianapolis in the trendy and artsy area of Broad Ripple. He was born on May 4, 1986. He is majoring in sports management in college. If the San Antonio Spurs hadn't picked him, word is that the Los Angeles Lakers would have grabbed him in the second round.

Hill played both guard positions in college, giving him added versatility. Until now, one would have to go back to 1997 to find another American born player that was drafted by the Spurs. That player? Tim Duncan.

The pre-draft camp in Orlando may have made all the difference in sealing the deal for George Hill and getting him noticed by scouts, He was on fire there, showing his usual skill and defensive abilities. Hill averaged 21.5 points a season for Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis.

Since this writer is from Indianapolis, I can note firsthand that everyone at IUPUI and the city's sport fans are proud of Hill. He is the talk of the town! Also, for a mid-level university like IUPUI, this is extremely exciting. Their basketball program is really on the map now and there are hopes that more like Hill will emerge and become first round picks for NBA teams.

For basketball fans, the partying is still going on in Indianapolis and should continue till the wee hours of the morning, even after George Hill is fast asleep.

Sources:

1. Dallas News, June 27, 2008, sports section, Title: Spurs Picked IUPUI Guard Hill, author: Elizabeth White
2. MySA.com - Title: NBA: Spurs Draft Little Known Guard, Author: Jeff McDonald, June 26, 2008