Bucknell University Athletics
Abe Badmus Drafted by NBA D-League's Tulsa 66ers
11/1/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Former Bucknell standout point guard Abe Badmus was selected in the eighth round of the NBA Developmental League draft by the Tulsa 66ers on Thursday night. Badmus, a 2007 graduate who is part of the winningest senior class in school history, will become the first Bucknell alum to play in the D-League.
Badmus was selected with the fourth pick in the eighth round. Tulsa took former Pepperdine forward Glen McGowan in the first round of the 10-round draft. For complete draft results, click HERE.
With Badmus headed to Tulsa, that means each member of Bucknell's Class of 2007 is now playing professionally. Chris McNaughton is currenly playing for C.B. L'Hospitalet in Spain, while Donald Brown is averaging better than 21 points per game for U.M.F. Tindastoll in Iceland. That trio won a school-record 87 games in four years.
Tulsa is one of 14 teams in the D-League and is affiliated with the NBA's New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks. The 66ers, who finished 21-29 last season, open their season on Nov. 23 at Wort Wayne, and they play their home opener on Nov. 30 against Colorado.
A native of Chicago, Badmus took over as Bucknell's starting point guard midway through his freshman year, and he went on to enjoy a terrific career for the Orange & Blue. He played in 123 career games and finished second on Bucknell's career steals list (217) and fifth on the all-time assists chart (375).
The 2004-05 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year is perhaps best known for his 11-assist, no-turnover performance in Bucknell's upset of Kansas in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. A year later he had seven assists and three steals and hit the game-clinching free throws in another NCAA victory over Arkansas.
Regarded as a playmaker and lock-down defender, the hard-working Badmus averaged 5.9 points per game in his career, with a 7.5 average as a senior.
Badmus has dual U.S.-Nigerian citizenship, and he helped lead the Nigerian national squad to a third-place finish at the 2005 FIBA Africa Cup, helping them qualify for the 2006 World Championships. He was back with Team Nigeria again this past summer, but an injury limited him to two games in the most recent FIBA Africa Cup.
