Monday
July 3, 2006
sports.michigandaily.com
sports@michigandaily.com
Horton to sign
with Heat, play
summer ball
By Gabe Edelson
Daily Sports Editor
NEW YORK - Just before midnight last Wednesday, NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik strode to the podium in The Theater at
Madison Square Garden ...
"With the 60th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons
select Will Blalock from Iowa State"
Simultaneously, hearts sank around Ann Arbor and throughout Wol-
verine Nation. The Pistons' selection of Blalock in the draft's final slot
officially meant that Michigan point guard Daniel Horton had gone
undrafted despite the fact that he was coming off the mos impressive
season of his four-year college career.
The fact that the hometown Pistons desperately needed a backup
point guard - coupled with the fact that Blalock himself could fill
that role in upcoming years despite Horton's superior scoring and free-
throw shooting - made the reality even more difficult to accept.
Horton, who watched the draft with friends in Ann Arbor, could not
be reached for comment. But according to Richard Katz, one of his
agents, the Cedar Hill, Texas, native certainly wasn't thrilled with his
newfound free-agent status.
"There's an immediate disappointment for anybody who doesn't
get drafted," Katz said. "Of course, any talented athlete is going to be
upset; it's going to be an emotional situation when they're not drafted.
... But the reality is, if you're not drafted in the early part of the second
round, in my opinion, it's better to be a free agent, because you can pick
and choose where you want to go rather than being saddled with an
organization where you don't have as good of an opportunity."
It didn't take long for Horton to find a suitor - and, perhaps, an ideal
platform from which he can launch an NBA career.
As the Detroit Free Press first reported on Friday, Horton plans to
sign a guaranteed contract with the Miami Heat. Katz said the deal
would most likely be a one-year agreement with a team option for the
second season, and it could become official as early as July 12, when
the free agency period begins.
If Horton does sign the contract - according to the NBA's Collec-
tive Bargaining Agreement, the minimum one-year salary for rookies
during the upcoming season will be $412,718 - he will play for the
Miami's summer league team in Orlando from July 10 to July 14. In
addition to the Heat, the Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Chicago
Bulls, Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets will also field teams for
SPORTS
6
14_
Icers post first
round hat trick
in NHL draft.
By H. Jose Bosch
Daily Sports Editor
On June 24, four more players on the Michigan hockey team
had the distinction of being an NHL draftee.
Sophomores Mark Mitera and Billy Sauer and incoming
freshmen Trevor Lewis and Chris Summers
were among the many players called during
the 2006 NHL Draft, held in Vancouver.
$Q0l Unlike last year, when then-incoming
freshman Jack Johnson was the third over-
all pick in the draft, it took a little longer
before the first Wolverine was taken off the
board. That honor belonged to Lewis, the
17th overall selection by the Los Angeles Kings.
The Murray, Utah, native spent last season playing forward
for the United States Hockey League's Des Moines Buccaneers.
He led the team with 75 points (35 goals, 40 assists) during the
regular season and notched 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in
the postseason en route to a USHL playoff title.
Mitera was drafted 19th overall by the Anaheim Ducks. The
Livonia native logged a lot of playing time for Michigan last
season, usually playing on the team's second defensive line. In
the process, he had 10 assists and a +5 plus/minus rating for the
season. He was also a defenseman for Team USA at the 2006
World Junior Championship in Vancouver.
The Phoenix Coyotes used their first pick (29th overall) oA
Summers, the third Wolverine chosen in the first round.
The Milan native spent the past two seasons skating
for the United States National Team Development Pro-
gram (NTDP), based in Ann Arbor. Summers - also a
defenseman - had a 6-11-17 line in 59 games last season,
and tallied the game-winning goal in the World Under-18
Championship tournament, earning himself and his team
mates the gold medal for Team USA.
All three first round draft picks will participate in the
2007 U.S. World Junior Championship evaluation camp
this summer.
The last Michigan hockey player to be called at the draft
was goaltender Billy Sauer. The Colorado Avalanche picked up
See ICERS, Page 16
Daniel Horton has aspirations to play in the NBA with the Heat.
the competition.
Katz said Horton plans to fly to Miami tomorrow evening to prepare
for summer league play, after which he will spend another week or two
with the Heat in Miami for "further instruction."
While no written contract has been drawn up just yet, Katz said he,
Horton and the Miami brass have agreed to the contract, which Katz
feels is an indication that "the Heat has every intention of taking him
to veterans camp." At that stage, Horton would have an opportunity to
compete directly for a spot on Miami's active roster.
The situation appears to be a promising one for Horton. Veteran
backup point guard Gary Payton is an unrestricted free agent who will
be 38 years old and entering his 17th season in the league if he were
See HORTON, Page 16
Wildcats coach Walker dies at the age of 52
EVANSTON (AP) - Northwestern had a huge impact on my life the last vices. Walker joined the school in 1999 after Ten title in 2000 and went to the Alamo
football coach Randy Walker's sudden four or five years. If you really knew "Everything he taught us could be nine years at Miami of Ohio. Bowl. The Wildcats also went to the
death left the school stunned Friday, him, I don't know how you wouldn't applied to life," linebacker Nick Roach "He was resilient in life and I think 2003 Motor City Bowl.
with players praising the 52-year-old as remember him." said. "You can't really measure some- his teams took on that personality," ath- Walker was the first Wildcats
an inspirational leader whose influence Walker died Thursday of an apparent thing like that." letic director Mark Murphy said. coach to guide the team to four sea-
reached far beyond the field. heart attack, after feeling chest pains Two months ago, Northwestern gave In October 2004, Walker checked sons with at least six wins since C.M.
"I'll never forget Coach Walker," around 10 p.m. at his suburban Chica- Walkerafour-yearextensionthroughthe himself into a hospital after experi- Hollister in 1899-1902.
kicker Joel Howells said at a somber go home, said Mike Wolf, the school's 2011 season - he was the only coach to encing chest pains. He was diagnosed "A lot of guys are still kind ol
news conference on campus. "He's assistant athletic director for media ser- lead the Wildcats to three bowl games. with myocarditis, an inflammation of in shock," Howells said, his voice
the heart muscle; the condition is not a cracking.
PRESENT THIS AD AND GET common ailment, and is usually caused Walker called Howells on Thurs-
P T A Dby a virus. day morning to see how he was doing.
Walker was out of the hospital in A day later, Howells was reminiscing
two days, and said he was taking a new about meetings that would veer into gab
approach to his diet and work schedule. sessions in which the coach would tel*
what ."I've really taken my doctor's stories about his past.
orders to heart, because frankly, I "He was a spiritual leader on our
want to see my grandkids someday," team and worried about people's integ-
does your hair make? , ,.. , he said at the time. rity and character first and foremost,"
Walker's Wildcats were 37-46 and Howells said.
CaloialLanesPlaza made three bowl games, going 7-5 last Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany
2S. Industrial Hwy Suite G season after a 50-38 loss to UCLA in the said in a statement: "Not only was
Sun Bowl. Northwestern shared the Big See WALKER, Page 16