Nov. 9, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 9, 2009 - Former Nittany Lion standout and three-time team MVP Jamelle Cornley (Columbus, Ohio) was selected in the third round of the NBA Development League's Draft by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Cornley, the Nittany Lions fourth all-time leading scorer (1,579) and rebounder (755) was selected No. 42 overall in the 16-team, eight-round draft. The Albuquerque Thunderbirds selected Carlos Powell, a 6-7 small forward from South Carolina, with the first overall selection.
Complete rosters for each of the 16 2009-10 NBA D-League teams will be comprised of the eight players selected in the draft along with seven returning, allocation, and local tryout players. Rosters will be reduced to 12 players on Nov. 18 and opening-day 10-man rosters must be set by Nov. 25 in anticipation of the Nov. 27 tip off of the NBA D-League's ninth season. Each team will play one preseason game between Nov. 19 and 25. Training camp starts Friday with 17 players.
Cornley helped lead Penn State to the 2009 NIT Championship and a school-record 27-win season, earning NIT MVP honors and second-team All-Big Ten. A four-year starter and 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Cornley was just the third Nittany Lion ever to post 1,500 points and 700 rebounds for a career.
Cornley had signed to play professionally in the Ukraine late in the summer, but returned to the United States after a short stint with the team.
-NITTANY LIONS-