Two former Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball players have made National Basketball Association (NBA) rosters as the league officially kicks off its 2012-13 season tonight.
Former two-time OVC Player of the Year
Kenneth Faried begins his second season with the Denver Nuggets while two-time All-OVC first-team pick
Kevin Murphy begins his rookie season with the Utah Jazz.
While at Morehead State Faried was named OVC Player of the Year in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and OVC Defensive Player of the Year in each 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. After helping the Eagles to NCAA Tournament victories in each 2009 and 2011 and earning All-American honors after leading Division I in rebounding and double-doubles, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 22nd overall pick of the first round. Faried was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2012 after averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds/game in 46 contests.
Murphy set the Tennessee Tech Tech single-game scoring record last season with 50 points against SIUE. He was drafted by the Jazz in June with the 47th overall pick, becoming the third-highest Golden Eagle ever drafted, and signed a two-year non-guaranteed contract in September. This preseason Murphy averaged four points per game in just 7.5 minutes per contest; his preseason was highlighted by an eight-point performance at the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers.