Nichols Becomes Member of the New York Knicks

Syracuse All-American Demetris Nichols was drafted in the second round (53rd overall) by the Portland Trail Blazers and then traded to the New York Knicks during the 2007 NBA Draft. Syracuse has now had at least one student-athlete selected in five of the last seven NBA Drafts.

“Nichols actually just impressed us all season long with the way he shoots the basketball,” said New York Knicks President, Basketball Operations & Head Coach Isiah Thomas. “Syracuse is a team that definitely should have been in the tournament, and when he came down to Orlando and worked out, I just was extremely impressed by his defensive abilities, and his shooting caught my eye. The way we want to play inside out, he is a guy that can definitely spot up outside the three-point line and knock it down.”

Nichols earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors this year. He was also a first team All-BIG EAST selection and made the United States Basketball Writers of American (USBWA), National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Basketball Times all-district teams.

Nichols finished his Syracuse career ranked third in career three-pointers (205), fourth in career three-pointers attempted (573) and ninth in career three-point percentage (.364). His 100 three-point baskets this winter represented the second-highest total by a Syracuse senior, trailing only Gerry McNamara's 103 in 2005-06. Nichols had the fourth-most threes in a season (100), seven shy of McNamara's record. His .417 three-point percentage this season ranks sixth.

He averaged a squad-best 18.9 points per game as a senior. Nichols completed his career with 1,344 points, good for a 28th-place tie on the SU ledger. He was a Wooden Award nominee.

Nichols earned BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week honors once and was an honor roll pick seven times in 2006-07.

Syracuse University Athletics

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