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Fernando Selected in NBA Draft

By Maryland Today Staff

Terps center Bruno Fernando became the first Angolan national to be selected in the NBA Draft when he was picked 34th overall last night, the fourth choice of the second round. The pick was made by the Philadelphia 76ers but Fernando was later traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

He is the 60th player drafted in Maryland program history and the sixth under Head Coach Mark Turgeon. Fernando joins fellow Terps Kevin Huerter and Alex Len in Atlanta.

"I'm thrilled for Bruno that his dreams of being drafted into the NBA have become a reality," Turgeon said. "The Hawks are getting one of the hardest working players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching, and Bruno has an incredible opportunity in front of him."

Fernando led the Big Ten in double-doubles (22) and field-goal percentage (.607) last season, while posting the fourth-most rebounds in Maryland single-season history (362). He was UMD’s first finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and the only Big Ten player to earn First Team All-Big Ten and All-Defensive team honors.

Fernando capped his Maryland career ranking second in program history in field goal percentage (.595), tied for eighth in blocks per game (1.6), tied for ninth in double-doubles (25) and 10th in rebounds per game (8.7). He appeared in 64 games, making 53 starts.

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