June 25, 2009
Hill and Budinger career biographies in PDF Format 
TUCSON, Ariz. - University of Arizona men's basketball players Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger were selected in the 2009 NBA Draft, held Thursday at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Hill, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound, junior forward from Atlanta, Ga., was the eighth pick of the first round by the New York Knicks. He averaged 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game in 34 appearances this year. Hill shot 53.7 percent (252-of-469) from the field and led the Pac-10 with 20 double-doubles. Hill scored in double figures a team-leading 33 times in 2008-09, and posted 21 double-figure rebounding games. He had 14 20-point and six 15-rebound games to his credit this season. Hill is the first Arizona player to average double figures in both points and rebounds in the same season since Larry Demic accomplished the feat in 1978-79 (19.3 ppg/10.3 rpg).
"We are very proud and happy to see Jordan picked so high," said UA head coach Sean Miller. "I expect Jordan to continue the Arizona basketball tradition of a high draft pick going on to a long and successful NBA career."
Hill received third-team All-American honors from The Sporting News and was an honorable mention All-American pick by the Associated Press. He earned first-team all-Pac-10 and Pac-10 all-Defensive team honors in addition to all-district honors by the USBWA and NABC. Additionally, Hill was among 24 players on the final ballot for the John R. Wooden Award.
Budinger, a 6-foot-7, 218-pound junior forward from Encinitas, Calif., was the 14th pick of the second round (44th overall) by the Detroit Pistons. He averaged 18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 35 appearances, while shooting 48.0 percent (219-of-456) from the field and 39.9 percent (67-of-168) from three-point range. Budinger ranked among the Pac-10 leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals (1.4 spg), free throw percentage (.801), three-point field goals made (1.9 per game), assist:turnover ratio (1.4:1) and minutes played (37.6). Budinger finished in double figures 31 times this year, including 16 20-point games.
"There have been a number of players in recent drafts come out of the second round and have solid NBA careers," said Miller. "With his skill set, Chase certainly has the ability to do just that."
A first-team all-Pac-10 selection, Budinger earned all-District IX honors from the USBWA and second-team all-District 20 kudos from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 56.1 percent (23-of-41) from the field during Arizona's three-game NCAA Tournament run. His 1,317 minutes played in 2008-09 are the most in school history for a single season, while his scoring tally equaled the 11th-best figure in UA annals.
Hill and Budinger are the ninth and 10th Arizona underclassman to enter the draft early and be selected since 1991, joining Brian Williams (1991), Mike Bibby (1998), Gilbert Arenas (2001), Richard Jefferson (2001), Michael Wright (2001), Andre Iguodala (2004), Marcus Williams (2007) and Jerryd Bayless (2008).
"We wish Jordan and Chase the best of luck," said Miller. "Those two have been outstanding representatives of Arizona basketball and we expect them to continue to represent our program in a positive way on the next level."
The University of Arizona has produced 62 NBA Draft picks since 1948. Hill also is the 16th first-round draft pick in school history and the 10th lottery pick since 1989.
Arizona's First Round Draft Picks
Player Selection Year Team
Larry Demic 9 1979 New York Knicks
Leon Wood 10 1984 Philadelphia 76ers
$Sean Elliott 3 1989 San Antonio Spurs
Anthony Cook 24 1989 Phoenix Suns
$Brian Williams 10 1991 Orlando Magic
Chris Mills 22 1993 Cleveland Cavaliers
Khalid Reeves 12 1994 Miami Heat
$Damon Stoudamire 7 1995 Toronto Raptors
$Mike Bibby 2 1998 Vancouver Grizzlies
Michael Dickerson 14 1998 Houston Rockets
$Jason Terry 10 1999 Atlanta Hawks
$Richard Jefferson 13 2001 Houston Rockets
$Andre Iguodala 9 2004 Philadelphia 76ers
$Channing Frye 8 2005 New York Knicks
$Jerryd Bayless 11 2008 Indiana Pacers
$Jordan Hill 8 2009 New York Knicks
$ Lottery pick
