WASHINGTON, DC – Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced tonight that the team has selected Bradley Beal (third overall) and Tomas Satoransky (32nd overall) in tonight’s 2012 NBA Draft.
“We are very pleased to draft Bradley and Tomas as we continue to build our team,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “Bradley is a good young player, an outstanding shooter and a good defender. He has outstanding character and we are excited to get a player with his abilities. Tomas is a very good prospect who is athletic and runs the floor well.”
Beal (6-5, 207 lbs.), who turns 19 today, averaged 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in his only season at University of Florida. In addition to leading the Gators in rebounding, minutes (34.2) and steals, he led all guards in the six major conferences in rebounding. Beal was the first player in school history to be named First-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman in the same season. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Beal earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors along with being named a McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American as a senior in high school.
Satoransky (6-7, 198 lbs.) averaged 4.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in three seasons with Spanish club Cajasol Sevilla, including 7.1 points and 2.4 assists in 2010-11. He also played two seasons in the Czech Republic National Basketball League, averaging 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 2008-09. Satoransky also represented the Czech Republic at the 2008 U18 European Championships and the 2010 U20 European Championships where he ranked second in assists (5.4 apg) and steals (2.6 spg).