Bell goes with 16th pick, Holman undrafted

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Rick Rickert had a disappointing night, but at least one Minnesota native was celebrating Thursday during the 2003 NBA Draft.

Former Boston College point guard Troy Bell and his family watched the draft at their south Minneapolis home and erupted in cheers when he was selected 16th overall by the Boston Celtics.

Bell was later traded to Memphis along with Dahntay Jones, picked 20th overall by the Celtics.

He was in the front yard, telling reporters how happy and excited he was to be returning to Boston, when his agent called. After ending the phone conversation, Bell said, "My agent says there will most likely be a trade."

Moments later, his father, who had been watching TV, walked out of the house and hollered, "Troy, you're on your way to Memphis!"

Said Bell of the trade: "I don't even care now. The hard part's over."

Bell will receive a three-year, guaranteed contract worth $3.45 million. He said he wants to share the wealth with his parents, because "all they ever wanted was the best for me."

Bell, who starred at the Academy of the Holy Angels High School in Richfield, was a second team All-American who ranked fifth in the nation in scoring (25.2 points per game) in his last season with the Eagles.

The 6-foot-1 Bell was expected to go late in the first round, possibly to the hometown Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 26, or somewhere in the second.

His height was expected to scare off some teams, but Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said his team is built for speed.

"We like to push the ball," Brown said on ESPN.

Meanwhile, center Jerry Holman, Rickert's teammate at Minnesota, went undrafted. Holman, a 6-foot-10 center from St. Paul, will now either sign with a team as a free agent, play overseas or grab a spot in the NBA's developmental league.

After an up-and-down two years with the Gophers, Holman boosted his stock with impressive individual workouts and a good showing at Chicago's pre-draft camp.

Gophers point guard Kevin Burleson, who also worked out for the Timberwolves, also was undrafted.

Jerome Beasley, a North Dakota All-American, was selected in the second round by the Miami Heat. The 6-foot-10 forward was chosen 33rd overall Thursday.

Beasley will get a one-year, non-guaranteed salary of $367,000, the NBA minimum.

"I was so excited when my name was finally called," Beasley said. "This whole day has been full of emotions, but I'm happy to be going to a running team like Miami."

He watched the draft at a friend's house in Grand Forks. Asked if he was disappointed about missing out on the first round, Beasley said: "Maybe a hair," he said. "But I can't complain, I made it. I'll just have to prove that I belong."