Meeks Taken as the 41st Pick of the 09 NBA Draft by Milwaukee

Another feather in the cap of Gwinnett County high school sports. Kentucky Jr. All-America Guard Jody Meeks, from Norcross High School in Norcross, GA, was taken in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night.

The 6'4 guard from Norcross set the UK single game scoring record by pouring in 54 points against Tennessee this past season. Meeks also scored 46 points against Louisville, which was the second highest UK single game scoring record. In that game, he set a new school scoring record in Freedom Hall. Meeks scored over 30 points seven times during the 2008-09 season. This prolific scorer from Gwinnett County also was the first Wildcat player since Derrick Miller in 1989 to score at least 30 points in consecutive games. He also tied a UK record with 9 three pointers against Appalachian St. You can make a case that Jody Meeks leaves Big Blue as the greatest scorer of all time in Kentucky Basketball history.

According to ESPN College Basketball analyst Jay Billas, Jody's father said that his son's greatest strength is his mind. By the way, in the Tennessee game in Knoxville where he scored 54 points to set a new UK single game scoring record, Meeks went 15-22 shooting, hit 10 trifectas and went a perfect 14 for 14 from the free throw line. That may be the best individual performance in College Basketball history.

As a fan of college basketball and the NBA, I'm surprised that Meeks didn't go in the first round. He was taken as the 41st pick overall in the draft. I think the Bucks were smart in taken him. How can you ignore a player who is that prolific a scorer and can do it from anywhere on the court. Meeks will be a star in the NBA. To say that he might be as great as Koby Bryant is not out of the realm of possibility if he continues to work hard, listen and keep his head on straight. One other thing, Meeks is the first Underclassman to be taken in the draft since both Landmark Christian star Randolph Morris and Rajon Rondo in the 2006 NBA Draft.

One more thing about Jody Meeks, and this is significant as far as games going down to the wire, he led the SEC in Free Throw Shooting with a 90.2% average. That is key for the Bucks in close games. More information on this story can be found at the UK Athletic Web Site at www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061509aaa.html.