At long last, schools from this state had reason to celebrate again during an NBA draft.

Sean Singletary, who was a four-year starter for the University of Virginia, was the Sacramento Kings' choice with the 12th pick of the second round last night, the 42nd overall. Singletary, a 6-0 point guard from Philadelphia, was the second player from the ACC chosen in the two-round draft.

"I think he can play in the NBA, and I think he's been undervalued," draft analyst Jay Bilas said on ESPN. "I think he's a really good pick in the second round."

In June 2002, the Chicago Bulls selected U.Va. guard Roger Mason Jr. with the second pick of the second round. Until last night, Mason, a key reserve for the Washington Wizards this past season, held the distinction of being the last player from a school in Virginia drafted by an NBA team.

Virginia Tech forward Deron Washington was the second-to-last pick last night, going to the Detroit Pistons with the 59th selection overall. Washington, renowned for his athleticism, is the first Hokie taken in the NBA draft since swingman Eddie Lucas, who went to the Utah Jazz with the 58th -- and final -- pick in 1999.

Singletary, whose No.44 jersey was retired in March before his final regular-season game at John Paul Jones Arena, is the only player in ACC history to total 2,000 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals in his career. He's one of only 25 players in league history to make the all-ACC first team three times, a group that includes Tim Duncan, Ralph Sampson, Phil Ford, David Thompson and Billy Cunningham.

The Kings were among the many NBA teams that worked out Singletary, but he wasn't listed on many mock drafts. At 6-0, he's shorter than many NBA point guards, but his lack of size didn't keep him from rising to rare heights at U.Va., where he played for Pete Gillen as a freshman and for Dave Leitao the past three seasons.

Among the first-round picks last night were two forwards who played on the postgraduate team at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham: West Virginia's Joe Alexander and Florida's Marreese Speights.

Among the standouts not selected last night were Prince George High graduate Reggie Williams, who as a Virginia Military Institute swingman led Division I in scoring the past two seasons; and former U.Va. starter Gary Forbes, the Atlantic 10 player of the year as a Massachusetts senior in 2007-08.
Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or jwhite@timesdispatch.com.