Cincinnati Royals Lay Claim to Jerry Lucas

April 23, 1958

Detroit -- The Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association want Seattle University's Elgin Baylor but the tall All-America says he isn't interested--not this year at least.

Minneapolis was the first team to receive a balk following Tuesday's draft here of the country's top court talent by the eight NBA teams.

"I don't care who drafted me." said Baylor in Seattle after being told the Lakers had chosen him in the first round. The 6-6 junior from Washington, D.C., said he wanted to get his college degree before thinking about professional ball.

Philadelphia started off the draft session, grabbing off All-America Guy Rodgers of Temple in exercising its territorial rights to any college player within a 50-mile radius of Philadelphia.

Indiana's Archie Dees went to Cincinnati, Peter Brennan of North Carolina and San Francisco's Mike Farmer were claimed by New York, Connie Dierking of Cincinnati went to Syracuse, Dave Gambee of Oregon State was grabbed by St. Louis and 6-9 Ben Swain of Texas Southern got the nod from Boston.

The league, in other action voted to drop the drafting of high school players. It left the status of Wilt (The Stilt) Chamberlain, Kansas star, unchanged Philadelphia drafted Chamberlain several years ago while he was in high school.

Also unchanged is Cincinnati's claim to Jerry Lucas, a Middleton, Ohio, high school star. Lucas reportedly is headed for the University of Cincinnati and the NBA rules that if he picks another team's 50-mile territory Cincinnati's claim will be void.

Source: Associated Press,