Believe it or not, Maurice Taylor
wasn't the only player selected
in the NBA Draft last week in S
Charlotte. For more draft cover-
age, see page 19. July 2, 1997
Michigan Genuine Drafts

Two 'M'
icers taken
by NHL
By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Editor
The NHL draft on June 21 was a
unique experience in the development of
many hockey careers.
Only two Wolverines were selected in
the draft, but their stories are as different
as can be imagined.
"'osh Langfeld, who has yet to skate in
a game at Yost Ice Arena, was only the
seventh collegian selected when his
name was called by the Ottawa Senators
in the third round.
As the 66th overall selection,
Langfeld has a bit of pressure on his
broad shoulders because of his imposing
size. He stands 6-foot-3 and tips the
scales at 200 pounds.
His size may have been the biggest
reason for his high selection.
"He has very good size and strength,"
said Marshall Johnston, director of play-
er personnel for Ottawa.
Langfeld, who will be a freshman at
Michigan in the fall, played last season
in Lincoln, Neb. in the United States
Hockey League.
Johnston believes that Langfeld's sig-
nificant development in recent seasons
has been nothing but positive.
"He came out of high school without
much notoriety," Johnston said. "In the
two years since that time, he was able to
achieve significant recognition."
See ICERS, Page 18

Taylor seleci
join Vaught
By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Editor
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Maurice
Taylor's draft value was as unpredictable
as his workout session with the team that
eventually picked him.
"The strangest thing came up when I
worked out" with the L.A. Clippers,
Taylor said. Los Angeles coach Bill
Fitch "stopped the workout after 30 min-
utes and I thought it was a bad sign.
"I have no idea why he stopped it. I
guess it was a
good sign because NA
he picked me."
Now Taylor can
be assured of
many full practices,
in the near future.
The L.A. Clippers
selected him with
the No. 14 pick in the NBA Draft in
Charlotte last Wednesday.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior had
been projected anywhere from a lottery
pick to an early second-round selection
by draft analysts.
Since he was taken 14th, Taylor was
not a lottery pick - first through 13th
are lottery selections. But that didn't dis-
courage him.
"After Indiana and Cleveland passed
on me, I knew I was going to L.A.,"
Taylor said.
Taylor joins a team currently on the
upswing. The Clippers finished 36-46
last season and made it to the playoffs for
the first time since the 1992-93 season.
"They made big strides last year, they
made the playoffs," Taylor said. "And
hopefully I can make some positive
changes and we can make bigger strides
this year."
His large frame should make Taylor a
natural power forward in the NBA. He

ted 14th, to.
on Clippers
averaged 12.9 points per game and 6.1
rebounds in three years at Michigan.
Taylor will most likely be needed to
play small forward, as well. The Clippers
have experienced players in front of him.
"What they needed last year was a
guy in the frontcourt who could score,'
Taylor said. "I think that's what I bring
to the team. I can play either forward
position. The one thing I have to work on
is defensively - can I guard a small for-
ward? It'll be tough, but I'm ready."
The Detroit native said he plans on
losing some weight to help him increase
his defensive speed.
He'll need the improved speed
because a familiar face to Michigan fan
inhabits the top power forward spot otW
the Clippers.
Loy Vaught, who played on Michigan's
national championship team in 1989, was
the top scorer for the Clippers last season
with 14.9 points per game.
"We spoke for a quick second," Taylor
said. "lie's a Michigan man and we all
stick together, so we spoke for a few
minutes, and we said hopeftilly we'd see
each other again.
"Maybe those words meant som4
thing."
Taylor said that his years at Michigan
helped prepare him for his new life as a
professional athlete, in more ways than
just athletically.
"The three years thatIve been there
prepared me more socially than athleti-
cally," Taylor said. "I had a better chance
to interact with people of different races
than I did in high school in Detroit.
"Athletically, you couldn't go to a be@
ter school than Michigan. I had a chance
to play the great game that I love for
three years for a great university, and I
just felt that it was a good time to move
on and conquer another challenge."

NBA commissioner David Stern points to the future for Maurice Taylor, now a
member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Taylor was selected 14th overall.

I -I

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