Weber State University Athletics
A look at Weber State's NBA Draft history
6/21/2016 9:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
by Paul Grua
Weber State Director of Athletic Communications
This week, Weber State standout Joel Bolomboy will fulfill his dream of becoming an NBA player when he's expected to hear his name announced as part of the 2016 NBA Draft. This year's draft will be held Thursday, June 23 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Bolomboy is expected to be one of the 60 players selected.
In his four seasons with the Wildcats, Bolomboy became WSU's and the Big Sky's all-time leading rebounder. He totaled 1,312 rebounds in his career, more rebounds than any player from any school in the state of Utah. Bolomboy is also Weber State's career leader in blocked shots and finished seventh in career scoring.
This past season, he was named Big Sky MVP, Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and earned honorable metion All-American honors while leading the Wildcats to a 26-9 record in which the 'Cats won the Big Sky title, Big Sky Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
This week Bolomboy is looking to become the 16th player in Weber State history to be drafted in the NBA Draft and the second in the last four years. Damian Lillard was WSU's last NBA Draft pick when he was drafted sixth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers and went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors.
While 15 players have been drafted in the NBA Draft, only four have been selected in the first or second rounds.
Here is a look back at the 15 Weber State players selected in the NBA Draft.
Damian Lillard
The last Wildcat taken in the NBA Draft also was the highest selection in Weber State history. Lillard was the sixth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was the first Wildcat drafted in the NBA in 27 years. He is the only WSU player ever selected in the first round of the draft and just the thrid player in Big Sky history ever drafted in the first round. As a rookie Lillard won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and has since been a two-time NBA All-Star and this year earned All-NBA Second Team honors.
Shawn Campbell
Prior to Lillard, the last Wildcat drafted was Shawn Campbell who was picked in the fifth round (102nd overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Campbell was WSU's all-time leader in blocks before Bolomboy broke the record during the 2014-15 season.
Tom Heywood
Wildcat big man Tom Heywood was drafted in the sixth round (123rd overall) of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.
Bruce Collins
Three Weber State players were taken in the 1980 draft. Bruce Collins was selected in the second round with the 33rd overall selection by the Portland Trail Blazers. Collins is still Weber State's all-time leading scorer with 2,019 career points, which also ranks third in Big Sky history. Weber State retired the jersey of Bruce Collins this past season.
David Johnson
Collins' teammate David Johnson was taken in the fourth round (80th overall) of the 1980 draft by the Dallas Mavericks, just the fourth ever selection in the history of the Mavericks franchise.
Richard Smith
In the seventh round (159th overall) of the 1980 draft, Richard Smith was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. This past year, Smith was inducted into the Weber State Hall of Fame.
Stan Mayhew
Stan Mayhew played just one season at Weber State but made an impact, including scoring a school record 45 points in a game that still stands. After his season season with the Wildcats, Mayhew was drafted in the third round (51st overall) of the 1977 draft by the Indiana Pacers.
Al Dewitt
Al Dewitt was taken in the seventh round (109th overall) in the 1976 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Bob Davis
The second-highest selection ever for the Wildcats in the NBA Draft came in 1972 when Bob Davis was taken in the second round with the 14th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Willie Sojourner
In 1971, one of the greatest players in Weber State history was the highest selection to that point of any Wildcat. Sojourner was taken in the second round (20th overall) by the Chicago Bulls. He never played in the NBA but did play four seasons in the ABA with the Virginia Squires and the New York Nets. He was traded to the Nets along with Julius “Dr. J.” Erving. Sojourner was WSU's career leader in reboudning until Bolomboy passed him this season. Sojourner's jersey was retired during the 2014-15 season at Weber State.
Larry Bergh
Two players were selected in the 1969 draft with back-to-back picks. Larry Bergh was drafted in the 11th round (146th overall) by the Chicago Bulls — which had Jerry Sloan at the time.
Justus Thigpen
With the next pick in the 1969 draft (147th overall) the San Diego Rockets took Weber State's Justus Thigpen.
Dan Sparks
In 1968, Dan Sparks was taken in the fourth round (41st overall) by the Cincinnati Royals.
Jerry Trice
Two Wildcats were drafted in 1966, including Jerry Trice who became the first Weber State player ever drated when he was taken in the 18th round (111th overall) by the Baltimore Bullets.
Gene Visscher
With the next pick in 1966, Gene Visscher was taken in the 19th round (112th overall), also by the Baltimore Bullets. Visscher later became an assistant coach for the Wildcats and then spent four seasons as head coach at Weber State.
