SAN ANGELO – Former Angelo State center Marcus Hubbard, a two-time All-Lone Star Conference First Team selection and one of the instrumental players in helping the Rams become a perennial LSC power under head coach Fred Rike, was drafted by the Austin Toros in the fifth round of the 2010 NBA Developmental League Draft Monday.

Hubbard, a Palm Beach, Fla. native who was in Rike's first recruiting class at Angelo State, will begin his third season in professional basketball and first in the San Antonio Spurs organization when the team reports for training camp Nov. 9. Hubbard has appeared in 79 NBDL games over the past two seasons, including stints with the Dakota Wizards, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Reno Bighorns and Albuquerque Thunderbirds. He was originally selected as the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA D-League Draft by the Wizards.

“It's different than when I was younger,” Hubbard said of getting drafted again. “The first time around I was happy and thought everything was made for me – I didn't understand the work I had to put in. I played in Korea and came back with a different mindset. I decided I wasn't going to play overseas again. The Development League is another level and this time I'm going in in shape and ready to become the player I'm supposed to be and do what I need to do.”

Hubbard has averaged nearly eight points and five rebounds per game in his professional career after averaging 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game during his senior season at ASU in 2007-08. That year, Hubbard earned his second consecutive LSC South Division First Team selection and helped the Rams to the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time in six seasons. Hubbard was named to the Daktronics All-Region Second Team in 2006-07 when he averaged 21.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

“I learned from Angelo that I need to assert myself, be more of a team player, have focus and be ready for the game,” Hubbard said. “If I wasn't focused my team wasn't focused. Those are some of the things I picked up, the little things like being an example to my teammates.

“Coach Rike had one of the hardest training camps I've ever been through. He told me what I needed to do to become better. I took a lot of little things for granted then. I look back and respect everything he told me. You're never too old to go back to the basics. He definitely showed me hard work and what you need to do to make it.”

Hubbard has also played professionally with the NBA D-League Select Team during the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and was in camp with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2008 preseason and the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2009 preseason.

“We are excited to see that Marcus is getting a chance to continue playing professional basketball,” Rike said. “Marcus helped us win a lot of games here at Angelo State University and we wish him the best as he continues to work hard pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA.”

The Toros selected forward Dominique Archie (6-7, 217, South Carolina), forward Lance Thomas (6-8, 225, Duke), guard Josh Young (6-1, 172, Drake), forward Garrett Williamson (6-5, 200, St. Joseph's), forward Marcus Hubbard (6-8, 230, Angelo State), Vernon Hamilton (6-1, 195, Clemson), center Shagari Alleyne (7-3, 270, Kentucky), and guard Scooter McFagdon (6-5, 205, Tennessee) in Monday's draft.

The Toros' season tips off in Austin, Saturday, Nov. 27, at noon against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Angelo State's 2010-11 season opens on the road at the Tarleton State Tournament against Newman University, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. in Stephenville.

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