Return to Washington Examiner Homepage
May 18, 2013 | 11:21 PM
sports
Washington D.C. weather
Sports

Warriors draft Vanderbilt's Ezeli with 30th pick

June 28, 2012 | Modified: June 28, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Leave a comment
Photo - FILE - This Feb. 22, 2012 file photo shows Vanderbilt center Festus Ezeli, right, blocking a shot by South Carolina guard Brenton Williams (1) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn. Ezelin is a possible pick in the NBA Draft on June 28. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
FILE - This Feb. 22, 2012 file photo shows Vanderbilt center Festus Ezeli, right, blocking a shot by South Carolina guard Brenton Williams (1) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn. Ezelin is a possible pick in the NBA Draft on June 28. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have selected Vanderbilt center Festus Ezeli with the 30th pick in the NBA draft.

The Warriors stuck with size again when they took the Nigerian native with the final pick in Thursday night's first round. Golden State also selected 6-foot-8 small forward Harrison Barnes of North Carolina seventh overall.

The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Ezeli set Vanderbilt's record with 204 career blocked shots. Will Perdue previously held the mark at 157.

Ezeli, who moved to the United States in 2004, averaged 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. Golden State is looking for a long-term backup center to new big man Andrew Bogut and Ezeli will have a chance to fill that role.

Sports Videos

Most Read

Event Tickets & More