IRVINE, Calif. --- Former UC Irvine standouts Will Davis II and Mamadou Ndiaye will begin the season on NBA Development League rosters.
Davis was selected by the Reno Bighorns in the NBA D-League Draft Sunday. He was Reno's first pick and 28th overall after playing professionally for Kolossos Rodou in Greece last year.
He was a key force in the Anteaters' drive to the 2015 NCAA Tournament, leading the team in scoring (12.9) and rebounding (7.1) as a senior. Davis earned Big West Tournament MVP honors that season as UCI won the title to advance to the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament. He also was named to the All-Big West first team as a senior.
Davis, a 6-8 forward, ranks second all-time in career rebounds (852) and blocks (208) at UCI, and is eighth in points (1,384). He is one of just three players in the history of the Anteater program to record 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in his career.
Reno, which is affiliated with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, opens its season Nov. 13 at the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets).
Ndiaye has joined the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Drive, the NBA D-League team of the Detroit Pistons.
He opted to enter the NBA Draft following last season for the 'Eaters. He went undrafted and played for Golden State in the NBA Summer League. Ndiaye was signed by Detroit Oct. 22 and waived later before being assigned to the Grand Rapids roster.
The 7-6 Ndiaye averaged 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots last season as a junior for the Anteaters, who won a school-record 28 games.
Ndiaye was named to the 2016 All-Big West Conference first team and the NABC All-District 9 second team. In addition, he was selected the Big West's Best Defensive Player for the second time in three years.
Ndiaye ranks No. 1 in UCI history with 218 career blocked shots, which is third in the Big West record book. His 554 career rebounds rank 18th all-time at UCI and he shot 67.6 percent from the field in his career.
Grand Rapids opens the season Nov. 11 hosting the Canton Charge (Cleveland Cavaliers).
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