Mike Greenlar/ The Post Standard
It was an epic day for this year’s graduating class of SU basketball stars Thursday:
-Wes Johnson became an instant millionaire and was drafted fourth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
-Andy Rautins was ecstatic that he doesn’t have to toss all of his orange and blue clothing after being taken 38th overall by the Knicks.
AND
-Arinze Onuaku threw out the first pitch at the Syracuse Chiefs game. (It was a strike, too!)
The Fizz has obtained an exclusive photo of the napkin that Wes Johnson was nervously scribbling on before David Stern called his name.
Love is in the air as sales of T-Wolves jerseys are probably soaring through the roof. I can see it now – a sort of real life image of that napkin on the court: FLYNN-HEART-JOHNSON. It was meant to be.
And Andy Rautins? Wow. I’ll admit to sippin‚Äô the Haterade a little too much. I didn‚Äôt think he was going to get drafted. Then again, the Knicks have bombed the draft for years. Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins are two names you won‚Äôt see plastered on the walls in Springfield.
The Knicks had given up the rights to their first round pick in the ’04 Stephon Marbury trade. That became Gordon Hayward and the 9th overall to the Jazz. Do we think that Rautins can succeed in New York? Yes, if only because the Mike D‚ÄôAntoni system doesn‚Äôt pride itself on defense and promotes scoring and shooting.
At Alliance Bank Stadium, AO threw a looping first pitch for a strike while rockin’ the home Chiefs jersey and a fitted hat. He was nice enough to join the radio broadcast as well in the third inning.
What’s next for AO? Your guess is as good as ours.
Overall though, if you’re a ‘Cuse fan, Thursday was a pretty big day. The Orange hoopsters getting summer love.
Posted: Mike Couzens
