New York, NY – Former Saint Mary’s point guard Patrick Mills was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in the second round with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Mills becomes the first Saint Mary’s player since 1983 to be drafted, and is the highest pick since 1961. Mills gave up his final two seasons at Saint Mary’s to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.  

Mills becomes the highest player drafted since 1961, when Tom Meschery was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors with the seventh overall pick.

Mills averaged a team-high 18.4 points per game in 2008-09 and was named First Team-All-West Coast Conference for the second straight year. After being named the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2008, Mills was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nations top point guard. He was also selected to the Naismith Trophy Award Mid-Season Top-30 list, which honors the nation’s top player and was a First Team High-Major All-American by CollegeHoops.net.

Mills was named the WCC Player of the Month in December and was twice named as WCC Player of the Week this season (11/24/08 and 12/8/08), giving him five such honors for his career.

The last Saint Mary’s player to play in the NBA was David Cooke, who spent one season (1985) in the league with the Sacramento Kings, after signing as a free agent. Peter Thibeaux was the last player from Saint Mary’s to be drafted when he was selected in the fourth round by the Golden State Warriors in 1983.