Wright State’s Love picked 11th overall in NBA G League Draft

Former Raiders center will star pro career in Texas
Wright State's Loudon Love scored a career-high 34 points in Saturday's win over Robert Morris. Joseph Craven/Wright State Athletics

Wright State's Loudon Love scored a career-high 34 points in Saturday's win over Robert Morris. Joseph Craven/Wright State Athletics

The Texas Legends drafted former Wright State Raiders center Loudon Love with the 11th pick in the first round of the NBA G League Draft on Saturday.

Love announced earlier this month he had signed with the G League and would enter his name in the draft. He’ll join a Dallas Mavericks affiliate that plays in Frisco, Texas.

The Legends begin their season Nov. 5 on the road in Florida against the Lakeland Magic.

The Delaware Blue Coats, a Philadelphia 76ers affiliate, drafted Shamorie Ponds, who played at St. John’s, with the No. 1 pick. Zaire Wade, Dwayne Wade’s son, was picked just one spot ahead of Love by the Salt Lake City Stars.

A 6-foot-8 center from Geneva, Ill, Love averaged a team-high 16.6 points and 10.1 rebounds last season and was named the Horizon League Player of the Year for the second straight season. He ranks third in Wright State history with 1,792 points.

Love announced in July he would not take advantage of his extra year of college eligibility. He withdrew his name from the NBA Draft and left Wright State to sign with Stade Rochelais, which plays in France’s third division (NM1). That club announced in August he was returning to the United States for personal reasons.

According to the G League website, “A player who has not yet entered the NBA Draft can still sign a G League contract and enter the league through the NBA G League Draft. That player will maintain his NBA Draft eligibility but will be unable to be called up to the NBA that season. Seven players have taken this route and later been drafted by an NBA team.”

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