BATON ROUGE — LSU sophomore forward Stromile Swift will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at the University and enter the June 28 NBA draft, the 20-year-old announced Wednesday afternoon at the LSU Athletic Administration Building.
“The coaches, Coach Brady and the staff, my family and the friends, my relationship with the team, its all been wonderful. I love all my teammates, and I loved playing with them. I just had fun,” Swift said of LSU.
“At first I thought I’d be a top five pick, then I went to Vancouver and I had a good workout, and they told me that they would pick me at number two,” Swift said at the press conference.
Swift has spend the past few weeks working out with the top five selections, the New Jersey Nets, Vancouver Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic. He returned to Baton Rouge Friday night in time to work with head coach John Brady‘s Father-Son basketball camp this past weekend.
In two seasons (50 games) with the Tigers, Swift averaged 13.4 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks while leading the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in 1999-2000 and being named the Southeastern Conference Co-Player of the Year.
Swift also garnered Second and Third Team All-America honors along with First Team All-Region and All-District honors after his sophomore season.
The 6-9 forward has been projected as a top five pick in the upcoming NBA draft by almost all publications, with most expecting the Vancouver Grizzlies to pick Swift with the second pick overall.
2000 National Basketball Association Draft
First Round Picks
1. New Jersey Nets
2. Vancouver Grizzlies
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Orlando Magic
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Chicago Bulls
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
9. Houston Rockets
10. Orlando Magic (from Denver)
11. Boston Celtics
12. Dallas Mavericks
13. Orlando Magic
14. Detroit Pistons
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Sacramento Kings
17. Seattle Supersonics
18. Los Angeles Clippers (form Toronto via Atl., Phil, & N.Y.)
19. Charlotte Hornets
20. Philadelphia 76ers
21. Toronto Raptors (from Minnesota)
22. New York Knicks
23. Utah Jazz (from Miami)
24. Chicago Bulls (from San Antonio)
25. Phoenix Suns
26. Utah Jazz
27. Indiana Pacers
28. Portland Trailblazers
29. Los Angeles Lakers
Transcript from press conference:
HEAD COACH JOHN BRADY’S OPENING COMMENTS.
“Some of you were here when I took this job, and I got emotional when Joe Dean gave me this opportunity. I figured after this press conference I would shed a tear either way. It’s a good day either way.
The innuendo and rumor about the reason Stromile not coming back being his grades were bad is totally false, and anyone who said something about that doesn’t know Stromile Swift. He had an excellent semester in school. Our school GPA was the fourth highest of any sport on campus. Stromile continued to go to school and lift weights with our team even after he decided to enter his name into the draft without retaining an agent.
LSU’S STROMILE SWIFT
“First off, I want to say that I enjoyed my time here at LSU. I had a lot of fun and everyone was nice to me. I had a good time. I appreciate what everyone has done for me since I’ve been here at LSU. The reason I explored the draft the way I did was to see where I would be selected, but also to make sure I could come back to school. The coaches, Coach Brady and the staff, my family and the friends, my relationship with the team, its all been wonderful. I love all my teammates, and I loved playing with them. I just had fun.
Coach Brady has helped me as a player, on and off the court. He’s helped me mature as a person. I can’t believe how good coach has been to me and my family. He’s helped me through some hard times, and I appreciate that. LSU will always be a part of me and a part of my life. I enjoyed being here. Hopefully, the LSU fans will support me in my decision, and understand that its a family decision I had to make.
I’d just like to thank everyone in the LSU family that supported us, the alumni and the fans, everyone. Again, the decision was difficult because of the great experience I’ve had at LSU. But the opportunity in front of me to
enter the NBA draft is also great. It’s kind of hard for me to turn down. I’d just like to take care of my family and do things for them. So today, I’m placing my name officially in the NBA draft. I will not return to LSU for my junior season.
STROMILE THEN OPENED UP TO THE GATHERED MEDIA TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
Asked about where he has been told he would be drafted by the teams he’s worked out for.
“At first I thought I’d be a top 5 pick, then I went to Vancouver and I had a good workout, and they told me that they would pick me at number two.”
Stromile was asked what kind of role he would play with the LSU basketball program, and LSU as a whole, from now on.
“I think I’ll always be around, for support and to help the team. I just think I’ll always be around for anyone on this LSU team that needs my help.”
Swift was asked about the impact the LSU basketball coaching staff had on his game.
“The whole staff worked with me all the time. They helped me to develop my game and bring me to another level. They helped me out a lot.”
Stromile was asked about future plans.
“I had every intention of coming back to school. I promised my mom I would come back and get my degree, and I plan on doing that.”
He was then asked if he had hired an agent as of this time.
“No not yet, but I plan on doing so soon. I plan on interviewing a few individuals and agencies as well.”