Teenager Ricky Sanchez said thank you to the Nuggets on Tuesday for drafting him. The Nuggets hope to thank him in the future.
Denver drafted Sanchez, a small forward from IMG Academies in Florida, with 35th pick in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-11, 205- pounder averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four blocks as a senior for IMG’s Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla. The Puerto Rico native, who turns 18 on July 6, became the youngest draft pick in Nuggets history and one of the draft’s youngest entrants. Denver plans to develop Sanchez in the National Basketball Development League or overseas next season and intends to put him on the summer league team.
“He was really excited,” said Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, who talked to Sanchez by telephone Tuesday. “His words to me – he doesn’t speak great English – was, ‘Thank you. Thank you. I can’t thank you enough.”‘
The Nuggets became intrigued with Sanchez at the Global Games in Dallas in 2004 when he was just 6-8 and 175 pounds. He was recruited by Florida, Indiana, Texas and Kansas, but wasn’t listed in the NBA draft media guide. Vandeweghe watched Sanchez work out in Los Angeles three weeks ago and brought him to Denver for a workout this month.
“I’ll tell you now, I don’t know what he’ll be,” Vandeweghe said. “But he’s a very skilled guy. Very interesting.”
“He is one of a small group of athletes who can combine the height and presence of a post player with the skill and agility of a perimeter player, which increases his value for the NBA,” IMG coach Joe Abunassar said in a press release.
The Nuggets also drafted Belgian forward Axel Hervelle, 22, with the 52nd pick, after urging from their international scout, Massai Ujiri. The 6-8, 230-pounder averaged six points and 5.1 rebounds for Spain’s Real Madrid last season. Hervelle is expected to join his fellow draftees on Denver’s summer league team and play overseas next season.
“The scouting report compares him to (Phoenix forward) Bo Outlaw,” Nuggets coach George Karl said.
Footnotes
On no longer being mentioned as an executive candidate with Cleveland, Vandeweghe said: “I made it extremely clear to everybody that (Denver) is the place I wanted to be, first and foremost. I have a lot of confidence in (owner) Stan (Kroenke). We’ve come a long way, but I think we have a ways to go.” Vandeweghe also said the focus is on the draft and free agency – not on his contract, which is in the final year next season. … Karl said the Nuggets will bring in one outsider to join his coaching staff while likely retaining Adrian Dantley, Scott Brooks and Chip Engelland. Rex Kalamian is close to joining the Minnesota staff. Karl would not say who the outside candidate was, but said it probably would not be two of his old assistants, San Antonio’s Don Newman or Portland’s Tim Grgurich. … The Nuggets said they would have drafted Syracuse forward Hakim Warrick had he been available at No. 20. Warrick was drafted by Memphis at No. 19. “I’m not going to deny it, I was surprised he fell that far,” Karl said. … Vandeweghe said “half the league called” with interest in Denver’s 20th and 22nd selections Tuesday.
Staff writer Adam Thompson contributed to this report.
