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Magic Select Stephen Zimmerman 41st Overall in NBA Draft

Dan Savage
Director of Digital News

June 23, 2016

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic have selected Stephen Zimmerman in the second round (41st overall) of NBA Draft 2016. In addition, Orlando has acquired a future second round draft pick and cash considerations from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the draft rights to Jake Layman (47th overall), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced tonight.

Zimmerman (7’0”, 240, 9/9/96) played in 26 games (24 starts) with UNLV as a freshman last season, averaging 10.5 ppg., a team-high 8.7 rpg. and a team-high 1.96 blkpg. in 26.2 minpg. He ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots and third in rebounding. Zimmerman scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-high 21 points on Feb. 2 @ New Mexico. He pulled down 10+ rebounds 13 times, including a career-best 16 boards on Jan. 19 @ Utah State.

While at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Zimmerman led the Gaels to four straight state championships, becoming the only player in Nevada history to accomplish the feat at the large-school level. His 114 career wins also made him the winningest player in school history. As a senior (2014-15), Zimmerman was selected as both a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand All-American, after averaging 14.7 ppg., 10.1 rpg., 4.2 apg., 2.4 blkpg and 1.2 stlpg.

During the summer of 2014, Zimmerman was a member of USA Basketball’s U18 National Team, which won gold at the FIBA Americas U18 Championships. He averaged 8.8 ppg., 6.2 rpg. and 1.2 blkpg. in five outings. Zimmerman teamed with Myles Turner, Justise Winslow and Stanley Johnson on that squad. He also played for the U.S. team at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon.