By Josh Sekine, washingtonwizards.com
June 28, 2002

The Washington Wizards introduced 2002 draft picks Jared Jeffries, Juan Dixon and Rod Grizzard yesterday at a press conference held at MCI Center.

"This is a great day for the Washington Wizards," Chairman of Washington Sports and Entertainment Abe Pollin said. "I told these three young guys that they are now a part of a special organization, and I couldn’t be happier."

Jared Jeffries Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

Pollin, accompanied by Washington Sports and Entertainment President Susan O'Malley, General Manager Wes Unseld and Head Coach Doug Collins, added that he is excited to watch the three new picks, along with last year's number one overall selection Kwame Brown, help the Wizards become one of the NBA's elite teams.

"We have a young player in Kwame, who's going to be a star in this league, and this year to get the two guys that we wanted (in the first round) is a wonderful break for the Wizards," said Pollin.

Collins addressed the media and reiterated Pollin's excitement about having drafted such dedicated team players.

"I think they all bring something different (to the team)," said Collins. "I love high energy, talented, enthusiastic people, and that's what we have in these three players."

After gaining Big Ten MVP honors and leading his team to the NCAA Championship title game as a sophomore, Jeffries declared early for the NBA Draft. Last season the 6-10 forward averaged 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while becoming one of just six sophomores in school history to top the 1,000-point plateau.

In what he called the biggest game of his career, Jeffries led the Hoosiers with 24 points and 15 rebounds in Indiana's upset of top-seeded Duke in this year's NCAA Southeast Regional Semifinal.

After working out twice for the Wizards, Jeffries knew that Washington was the place he wanted to start his NBA career.

"When I was here about a week ago, I told Mr. Unseld and Coach Collins that I would like an opportunity to play here for the Washington Wizards, and dreams do come true," Jeffries said. "I now have a chance to come out and be a player in this league with a great organization that’s on the rise with a lot of young players."

Hometown favorite and hero, Dixon, played four years at the University of Maryland, winning 110 games, the most by any Maryland player. The 6-3 guard averaged 16.1 points per game during his career at College Park and became Maryland's all-time scoring leader.

A red-shirt freshman, Dixon was one of only two players in Maryland history to be named All-ACC First Team three consecutive seasons. During his senior year he was named ACC Player of the Year, and named Final Four MVP while leading Maryland to the school's first ever NCAA National Championship.

After growing up in the Baltimore/Washington region, Dixon said that getting picked by Washington and being able to stay in the area he has lived all his life was more than he could ask for.

"My goal is to work hard and do anything that I can possibly do to try and bring a world championship back to Washington DC.," Dixon said.

Second-round pick Grizzard left Alabama University after a junior year in which he was named an honorable mention All-American. The 6-8 guard was a third team All-SEC player and a Wooden Award finalist, averaging 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in his final year at Alabama, which were top 15 in the SEC for both categories.

Currently rehabilitating a leg injury, Grizzard vowed to work hard and be ready when the 2002-03 NBA season opens.

"I'm here in Washington, and thankful for it," Grizzard said. "Now it's just time for me to rehab and get to work."

Jeffries will keep his college jersey number, '1', while Dixon will move from jersey number '3' in to number '2', (center Brendan Haywood currently wears number '3') and Grizzard will be number '6' on the Wizards roster.

NOTES: Juan Carlos Navarro, a second-round pick selected 40th overall by Washington, will not play for the Wizards this upcoming season because he remains under contract with F.C Barcelona (Spain). Navarro, a 6-3 guard who is regarded as one of the most talented players in Europe, led F.C Barcelona to the Spanish National Championship in 1999 as well as 2001. Navarro also helped to lead the Spanish National team to the gold medal at the 1999 World Championship, as well as being a member of the 2000 Spanish Olympic team.