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Pejavlade · 06-29-2005, 01:33 AM

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Francisco Garcia has watched the Sacramento Kings play enough to know that his long-range shooting and versatility will fit in well with his new team.

"It goes right with my style of play," Garcia said Tuesday after being selected with the 23rd pick in the NBA draft. "They do a lot of pick-and-rolls, shooting 3s, and stuff like that."

Garcia, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound swingman who bypassed his senior year at Louisville, Garcia can play both guard positions and small forward. With an abundance of skills to use at three positions, Garcia said he is up for the task to do whatever the Kings ask him to do on the court -- including playing defense.

"Whatever they want me to do I'll do it," he said. "It doesn't really matter. I will bring whatever they want me to bring to the table and I will work hard everyday to get better."

Garcia, a native of the Dominican Republic who now lives in New York, averaged 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game during his junior year. Garcia shot 88 percent from the foul line.

"(Garcia) is a multidimensional player," said Geoff Petrie, the Kings president of basketball operations. "And he has improved every year in system that emphasizes in ball movement and team-structured offense. He's a terrific citizens and real competitor."

Garcia scored at least 20 points in three of Louisville's five NCAA tournament games, averaging 17.6 points and 4 assists per game as he led the Cardinals to the Final Four.

Garcia suffered through tragedy last year when his brother was shot and killed in December 2003. The death led Garcia to reassess his own life.

"I just want to be more dedicated," Garcia said, "and take things more seriously because you never know what's going to happen tomorrow."

The selection of Garcia may have came at the right time for the Kings since shooting guard Cuttino Mobley exercised his option Monday to become a free agent July 1.

"He's still an important player for us," Petrie said of Mobley. "We all know that free agency is treacherous and we are going to enter into that over the next three weeks. There are other things that we would like to continue to do with the team, if the opportunities present themselves. But again I think Garcia is a good addition because of his versatility, length, and size."

Garcia, who was named to the honor roll twice at Louisville, said he still plans to get his degree in communications.

"Oh, I will finish," Garcia said. "I will go back during the summer and take computer classes when I'm not doing anything."

Pejavlade · 06-29-2005, 01:35 AM

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"He's still an important player for us," Petrie said of Mobley. "We all know that free agency is treacherous and we are going to enter into that over the next three weeks. There are other things that we would like to continue to do with the team, if the opportunities present themselves. But again I think Garcia is a good addition because of his versatility, length, and size."

Looks like Petrie is trying to bring up his stock a little, with the acquirment of Mobley I have no doubt he wont be with us next season.

maKINGSofgreatness · 06-29-2005, 02:34 AM

I pray that we get something for Mobley, we don't have the assets to improve otherwise.

I'm very happy about Garcia, I didn't think he would be the pick because I saw Petrie going big, but he and Hodge we my preference among the wing players.

Twix · 06-29-2005, 02:56 PM

Another article I found:

Garcia goes to 'favorite' Sacramento
Ex-Cardinal taken with No. 23 pick

By Eric Crawford and C.L. Brown
ecrawford@courier-journal.com
cbrown@courier-journal.com

Former University of Louisville standout Francisco Garcia should feel right at home in the Sacramento Kings' offense. The Kings drafted the 6-foot-7 forward with the 23rd pick in the first round of last night's National Basketball Association draft.

For the past few seasons U of L coach Rick Pitino has had his teams watch tapes of the Sacramento offense whenever the Cardinals' offense stalled.

"They've been my favorite team to watch for a while," Garcia said last night. "I love the way they move the ball and play as a team. It's a great style and a great system for me."

Two other players with area ties were selected in the second round. Indiana University guard Bracey Wright was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 47th pick. Amir Johnson, a 6-9 McDonald's All-American who originally signed with U of L out of Los Angeles' Westchester High School, was taken by the Detroit Pistons with the 56th pick.

Garcia was listed as a borderline first-round pick when he decided to forego his senior season at U of L, but he solidified his position with a series of impressive postseason workouts.

One motivator for Garcia was to help take care of his mother, who lives in a poor neighborhood in Bronx, N.Y. That's where Garcia's younger brother was killed outside the family's housing complex in December 2003. As the No. 23 pick, Garcia is guaranteed a rookie salary of about $815,000.

"It's a dream come true, absolutely," Garcia said. "I feel very blessed. I was blessed to be able to come to Louisville and play for coach Pitino. Now I just have to keep working hard and getting better."

Garcia, who as a junior led U of L to its first Final Four appearance since 1986, is the second Cardinal in three years to be drafted in the first round. Reece Gaines was a first-rounder in 2003. Garcia is the 11th college player coached by Pitino to be drafted in the first round.

"We're really, really happy for Francisco," Pitino said in a news release from the school. "He was drafted by a team that really needs a shooting guard and a team that has a great style of play for him. He'll be playing in front of some of the best fans in all of professional basketball. What team picks you can be more important than what position you're taken, and this is a great fit for Francisco."

Garcia was a second-team National Association of Basketball Coaches All-American after averaging a team-best 15.7 points, 4.2 rebound and 3.9 assists.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...TS02/506290477

AnDrOiDKing4 · 06-29-2005, 05:23 PM

Well the part on his good character is stacking up, other than that hard game he had to play after one of his family members was murdered, and how he is always talking about wanting to move his mom out of her neighborhood, i just heard Grant talk about how he didnt accept the invite for the NBA draft because he was only offered 4 tickets and he decided to stay home with his entire family since he couldnt take everyone...

cimalee · 06-29-2005, 08:08 PM

Kings got a steal , Garcia will be a player

**kamego** · 06-29-2005, 08:09 PM

Garcia is a very nice fit for Sac, lets just hope he plays like he did before the NCAA tourny. He is a great player when he attacks at the hole.

**Anima** · 07-01-2005, 09:27 PM

Couldn't agree more with cimalee, The Kings got a steal in Garcia.

baller_fan · 07-03-2005, 05:04 AM

Im glad that Garcia believes hes going to fit in with the Kings. They got a great player and im surprised Garcia wasnt picked earlier in the draft by a different team. But yeah if he plays like he did in the NCAA he will be a great player for many years to come

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