Mike Scott selected 43rd by the Atlanta Hawks in 2012 NBA Draft

Mike Scott became the first Virginia Cavalier selected in the NBA Draft since Sean Singletary in 2008 when the Atlanta selected him in the 2nd round at #43 overall. After putting the Hoos on his back and carrying the team to the 2012 NCAA Tournament, Scott is ready for the next phase in his career, when he'll take his talents to Atlanta. The 6-foot-9 forward will join an all-too exclusive group of "Hoos in the NBA," as Roger Mason was the only UVA grad on an NBA roster last season.

The Hawks are getting themselves a big man who doesn't miss jump shots - remember this game?. He is a battler in the low post and a force on the boards. The fact that his "downsides" tend to be factors out of his control, like age, injury history, and size, says something about the type of worker he is. And he'll have a real chance to succeed in Atlanta, who have committed to the worldwide fight against pacism.

Tonight's selection is the culmination of a memorable college career at Virginia. Scott averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, shooting 56% in the process. This video on Virginia Sports TV provides a good tribute look back at his efforts this past season and a discussion of what he did to prepare for his NBA Draft selection.

Scott will have plenty of adjustments to make in the pros. He'll go from being the focal point of his UVA team and arguably the best player in the ACC to a role player whose size means that he'll often be slightly out of position. We'll have more analysis upcoming on how Scott will fit into a talented Atlanta squad, alongside Joe Johnson and Al Horford, as well as more reaction from Mike Scott and the Hawks.

From the Wahoo Nation, thank you and congratulations to Mike Scott. The Atlanta Hawks just picked up a great basketball player and a hell of a guy.