June 28, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former Friar Ryan Gomes (Waterbury, Conn.) was the 50th selection (second round) in the NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 28. Gomes, who graduated in May after four seasons with the Friars, was drafted by the Boston Celtics. He becomes the eighth Friar all-time drafted by the Celtics and the first since Eric Williams was selected in the first round (14th overall) in 1995. It marked the second consecutive season that a Friar was drafted as Marcus Douthit was selected in the second round (56th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft. Providence, which has a rich history in the draft, including the distinct honor of having the only No. 1 pick ever from a New England school (Jimmy Walker, 1967), now has had 38 players selected in the NBA Draft.

In four years at Providence, Gomes established himself as one of the top players in the nation. Gomes left Providence as the Friars' all-time leading scorer with 2,138 points and ranks fifth all-time in rebounding with 1,028 boards. In his senior campaign, Gomes led the BIG EAST in scoring with 21.6 ppg and finished fifth in the conference in rebounding (8.2 rpg). For his efforts he earned his second consecutive All-BIG EAST First Team accolade. He also was named Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America. As a junior in 2004, Gomes led the Friars to a 20-9 record. He averaged 18.9 ppg and 9.4 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Along with his selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team, he was named a First Team All-American by both the Associated Press and The Sporting News.

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