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Thursday, June 26, 1997

Rockets draft late, get Rhodes, Zwikker

By MICHAEL A. LUTZ / AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Rockets, selecting in the first round for the first time in four years, made Southern California forward Rodrick Rhodes the 24th pick in the NBA draft Wednesday night.

The Rockets also had the first pick in the second round and chose 7-3 center Serge Zwikker of North Carolina, a member of the Tar Heels' NCAA Final Four teams in 1995 and 1997.

"A lot of people might say he isn't the kind of player that will fit our system because we are in and out," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said of Rhodes. "But we want to become more athletic. He's a guy who can get in the paint and make the beautiful pass to people."

Rhodes played three seasons for the Kentucky Wildcats before transferring to Southern California for his senior year. He averaged 14 points as a senior.

The last time the Rockets had a first round pick was 1993, when they chose guard Sam Cassell. Cassell played for the Rockets until last season, when he became part of the trade that brought Charles Barkley to the Rockets.

The Rockets took forward Othella Harrington and guard Randy Livingston in last year's draft. Both players made the team, and Harrington saw playing time as a backup center.

Rhodes was among a group of players the Rockets auditioned in the days leading up to the draft.

He helped USC to an 17-11 record and a berth in the NCAA playoffs after earning Pac-10 newcomer of the year honors.

Zwikker posted career highs as a senior at North Carolina, averaging 11.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He finished eighth in career blocked shots for the Tar Heels with 132.

What does Tomjanovich like about Zwikker?

"Being big, that's what I like," Tomjanovich said. "He's 7-3 and he can really shoot the basketball. What attracted us to him was the way he talked about working with an assistant coach to improve his game.

"We watched him perform in the pre-draft camp at Chicago and he stepped out to 15 feet and made about eight in a row." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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