By Ryan Hope
It has been a long time since someone from BYU has been drafted into the NBA.
Shawn Bradley, all 7 feet 6 inches of him, was the last Cougar selected by an NBA franchise when the Philadelphia 76ers used the second pick overall in the 1993 draft on Bradley.
Bradley is also the only former BYU player currently on an NBA roster.
BYU guard Travis Hansen can end the 10-year drought today if he is selected in the 2003 NBA amateur draft.
It appears that its not a question of ''if'' Hansen will be drafted, but ''where''.
Several draft experts project Hansen being selected in the late first round and no later than the early second round.
The Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers have shown the most interest in Hansen, but history tells us anything can happen in NBA drafts.
When teams are making their selections in the late first round and early second round, they aren''t necessarily looking for a superstar, but rather a solid role player they can count on for quality minutes.
Hansen fits the role perfectly.
Hansen averaged 16.8 points and 7.7 rebounds in the 2002-03 season and was named to the Mountain West Conference first team.
The maturity he carries with him at age 25 and his impeccable character off the court are attractive to NBA teams in this era of youth-driven drafts.
Following the end of his senior season, Hansen was projected as a mid to late second round pick, but impressive showings at the Portsmouth, Va. and Chicago draft camps have propelled Hansen higher up the draft charts.
The Pistons may have the most interest in Hansen as a replacement for brash guard Jon Barry. Hansen brings intensity to the court the Pistons like. Detroit has the second overall pick as well as the 25th selection in the first round. While the Pistons have already said they will select Serbian teenager Darko Milicic with the second pick, Hansen might be a good fit at No. 25.
Another interesting scenario would be Hansen going to the Lakers to team up with Shaq, Kobe and Mark Madsen.
Like Madsen, Hansen spent two years on a Spanish-speaking mission. Madsen has been a hit among the large Hispanic population in Southern California, speaking on several Spanish radio stations and is quoted often in the Spanish press.
When all is said and done, Hansen may end up on a team no one expected. Drafts tend to be that way.
Hansen will find out what his fate will be sometime this evening.