June 25, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former UAB standout Robert Vaden was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 24th pick in the second round (54th overall) of the 2009 National Basketball Association Draft Thursday evening. He was then subsequently traded to Oklahoma City where he will begin his NBA career.

Vaden becomes the second Blazer in the last two years to be selected in the second round. Walter Sharpe was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 32nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Vaden, who played two seasons with the Blazers after transferring from Indiana following his sophomore season, leaves UAB as one of the top players in school history. During his two-year career, he became the fastest player in UAB history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, reaching the feat in his 50th game as a Blazer. He closed his UAB tenure with 1,295 points, which ranks 12th in school history, and 2,010 points in his four-year career.

Vaden, a two-time all-conference honoree and 2008 C-USA Newcomer of the Year, led Conference USA this past season in three pointers made a game (3.29) and total threes made (112). He finished the year fifth in the league with 17.6 points per game, while adding 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

The two-time NABC honoree set single-season school records for points (695), threes made (142) and threes attempted (355) during his junior campaign in 2007-08. Vaden also tied the single-game school record when he torched the nets for 41 points in a win at UTEP (2/27/08). He finished the year with an average of 21.1 ppg.

Now as a member of the Thunder, Vaden will reunite with former Indiana Hoosier teammate and Huntsville, Ala. native D.J. White. Vaden and White were teammates at IU from 2004-06 under current UAB head coach Mike Davis.