University of Tennessee at Martin guard Lester Hudson was selected No. 58 overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2009 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft on Thursday night.
Hudson is the first OVC player selected in the NBA Draft since Morehead State's Ricky Minard was selected No. 48 overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2004. Overall he is the 41st OVC basketball player to be drafted.
Hudson was named the OVC Male Athlete of the Year each of the past two seasons, becoming only the fourth back-to-back male winner of the honor and first since Austin Peay’s Bubba Wells did so in 1995-96/1996-97.
After putting together unbelievable individual numbers a season ago, Hudson took it to another level in 2008-09, lifting his team to new heights. With Hudson in the backcourt, UTM compiled a 14-4 league record and won its first regular season championship since joining the OVC in 1992-93. UT Martin advanced to the OVC Tournament semifinals for the second straight season, falling to eventual champion Morehead State despite 34 points from Hudson. The team did earn a berth in the National Invitational Tournament, the first postseason berth at the Division I level for the program.
Hudson, who was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year entering the season, repeated as Player of the Year afterwards, becoming the first OVC player in 13 years to do so. The native of Memphis, Tenn. led the OVC in scoring (27.5), steals (2.3) and free throw percentage (88.1%). In fact he ranked second nationally in scoring, a mark that trailed only Davidson’s Stephen Curry. Hudson also averaged 7.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists a contest.
He was the only Division I player nationally to average 5-plus points, 4-plus rebounds, 4-plus assists and 2-plus steals per game.
During the season Hudson was named OVC Player of the Week a record seven times; in just two seasons he earned that honor 11 times, also an OVC record. An honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press for the second year, Hudson was one of 16 total All-Americans at the Division I level by CollegeInsider.com.