Westchester Knicks Announce Inaugural Draftees at Buffalo Wild Wings
The Westchester Knicks selected their inaugural draftees live on Cisco WebEx, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 3:30 p.m. Later that same evening Westchester Knicks General Manager Allan Houston introduced the franchise’s first draft selections, at a Draft Party, at Buffalo Wild Wings, on Mamaroneck Avenue, in White Plains.
The Draft Party was hosted by the first Public Address Announcer in Westchester Knicks history Mark Fratto and the inaugural Westchester Knicks Dance Team. Fans packed into Buffalo Wild Wings and were greeted by the Dance Team and Bill Boyce, the Westchester Knicks V.P. Sales and Business Operations, as Fratto selected enthusiasts to play trivia games for prizes.
The Westchester Knicks Dance Team passed out orange-and-blue hand towels with their trademark logo, which were waved enthusiastically by fans during the Draft Party. The Westchester Knicks Draft Party was broadcast on WFAS-AM 1230, by the inaugural Westchester Knicks Broadcast Team, which consists of David Resnick, Chris DeAngelo and local favorite Jordan Griffith.
Griffith, who will be the Color Commentator for all Westchester Knicks games, will also broadcast a Westchester Knicks weekly radio show on WFAS. Griffith is a 2007 graduated from White Plains High School. He played on the Tigers varsity basketball team that reached the Sectional Title game in 2007, with noted teammates Sean Kilpatrick and Ra’Shad James.
The Westchester Knicks traded their first round pick in the 2014 NBA Developmental League Draft to acquire forward Darnell Jackson from the Reno Bighorns. Jackson played in 138 NBA games with three different teams. In 23 D-League games, Jackson averaged 16 points per game. Also, the local Knicks traded their inaugural third round pick to acquire Rice High School graduate Andre Barrett. The Rice point guard originally signed as free agent with the NY Knicks in 2004.
The Westchester Knicks selected six players in their inaugural NBA D-League Draft, including their first selection in franchise history Joseph Bertrand from the University of Illinois, who they selected as their tenth pick in the second round. “We are looking for players with the ability to have multiple skill sets and have a mentality to grow and develop,” stated Houston.
Notably for their fourth pick in the sixth round, the Westchester Knicks selected Mt. Vernon High School graduate Sherrod Wright (2009), who was the 100th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Developmental League Draft.