Bulls get Weems at No. 39

BY BOB HOLT

Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/229822/

FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas forward Sonny Weems had to wait a few hours, but he got to hear his name called on ESPN during Thursday night’s NBA Draft. Weems was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls as the No. 39 overall pick. Adam Silver, the NBA’s deputy commissioner, announced Weems’ selection about 10 p. m.

1 Central, 3 / 2 hours after the draft began. Weems, 6-6, led Arkansas to a 23-12 record last season as a senior and earned All-SEC recognition, averaging 15. 0 points, 4. 5 rebounds, 3. 6 assists and 1. 3 steals per game.

In the NBA, Weems is expected to play shooting guard or small forward.

“He’s got the tools, he’s just got to sharpen them up a little bit,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said after Weems was drafted. “But he’s a terrific athlete and a great leaper and can hit a midrange jump shot.

“ He’s got to be a more focused defender. I think that’s where his place in the NBA is going to be. He’s going to have to be a really tough guy and use his athleticism, especially on the defensive end.”

Weems, from West Memphis, played two seasons at Arkansas after transferring from Arkansas-Fort Smith, where he led the team to a national junior college championship.

Weems was the second player drafted by the Bulls, who selected former Memphis point guard Derrick Rose with the No. 1 overall pick.

The Bulls had drafted only one Razorback previously, in 1973 when they took Martin Terry in the third round.

Weems became the third Arkansas player drafted in the past eight years, along with Joe Johnson (10 th in the first round to Boston in 2001 ) and Ronnie Brewer (14 th in the first round to Utah in 2006 ).

Most draft web sites projected Weems as a second-round pick, going between 35 th and 53 rd, so his selection at 39 wasn’t a surprise.

The Bulls had been among several teams to bring in Weems for a workout.

Weems was the third SEC player drafted, following LSU’s Anthony Randolph (14 th to Golden State ) and Florida’s Marreese Speights (16 th to Philadelphia ).

Other SEC players drafted included Alabama’s Richard Hendrix (49 th to Golden State ), Vanderbilt’s Shan Foster (51 st to Dallas ) and Kentucky’s Joe Crawford (58 th to the Los Angeles Lakers ).