Roger Mason, Jr., Selected By The Chicago Bulls In The NBA Draft

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June 26, 2002

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Former University of Virginia standout Roger Mason, Jr., was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 2002 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft on Wednesday (June 26). Mason was the second pick in the second round of the draft and was the 31st player selected overall.

Mason is the first Virginia player selected in the NBA draft since Cory Alexander and Junior Burrough were selected in 1995. Alexander was a first round selection (29th overall pick) by the San Antonio Spurs and Burrough was selected in the second round (33rd overall pick) by the Boston Celtics.

In addition to Mason, the Bulls selected Jason Williams of Duke in the first round (second pick) and Lonny Baxter of Maryland in the second round (44th pick).

Mason, a 6-5 guard from Silver Spring, Md., lettered three times for Virginia. He had one year of eligibility remaining before submitting his name for consideration for the 2002 NBA draft.

He led the Cavaliers in scoring (18.6 ppg.), assists (4.1 apg.), free throw percentage (133-151, 88.1 percent), field goals made (162) and three-point field goals made (81) during the 2001-02 season. He ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in free throw percentage and third in scoring.

Mason was a second-team All-ACC selection last season, was named to the 2002 National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 5 first team and was selected to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-District 3 team. He was also among the Top 50 Preseason Candidates and the Top 30 Midseason Candidates for the 2001-02 Wooden Award All-America Basketball Team.

He ranks 25th on Virginia’s all-time scoring list with 1,231 points, and holds UVa’s season (122-138, 88.4 percent, 2000-01) and career (318-366, 86.9 percent, 2000-02) records for free throw percentage. He is sixth on UVa’s career list for three-point field goals made (137).