Daniel Orton
Encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph Orton is an American
professional basketball
player with the New Mexico Thunderbirds, the NBA Development League
affiliate of the NBA's Orlando Magic
. He is a 6-foot 10-inch, 255-pound center
who played collegiately for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
High School in Oklahoma City. Bishop McGuinness won the class 4A state championship Orton's freshman, sophomore, and junior year. During his senior season, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament
in his knee, cutting his final season of high school basketball short.
He was recruited to the University of Kentucky by Billy Gillispie
, however, Gillispie was fired following Orton's senior season. Orton kept his commitment to Kentucky after John Calipari
was hired by the university. To the chagrin of Big Blue Nation, Orton has repeatedly told media outlets that he made a mistake going to Kentucky and should have chosen Kansas Jayhawks
. In the final Rivals.com recruiting rankings, Orton was considered the third best center in the Class of 2009 and the #22 player overall.
.
with the 29th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
. On July 1, 2010, Orton signed his rookie contract with the Magic. On December 1, it was announced that Orton would be sent to the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League
. In his second game for the Thunderbirds, Orton suffered a season-ending knee injury.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player with the New Mexico Thunderbirds, the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
affiliate of the NBA's Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. He is a 6-foot 10-inch, 255-pound center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
who played collegiately for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
High school
Orton was a 5-star recruit while playing for Bishop McGuinnessBishop McGuinness High School (Oklahoma)
Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School is a college-preparatory secondary school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It has an enrollment of 720 students in grades 9 through 12, is co-educational, and serves as part of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in the Roman Catholic Church.-History:The...
High School in Oklahoma City. Bishop McGuinness won the class 4A state championship Orton's freshman, sophomore, and junior year. During his senior season, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his knee, cutting his final season of high school basketball short.
He was recruited to the University of Kentucky by Billy Gillispie
Billy Gillispie
Billy Clyde Gillispie , also known by his initials BCG, is an American college basketball coach. Since 2011, he has been the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Texas Tech University...
, however, Gillispie was fired following Orton's senior season. Orton kept his commitment to Kentucky after John Calipari
John Calipari
John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky....
was hired by the university. To the chagrin of Big Blue Nation, Orton has repeatedly told media outlets that he made a mistake going to Kentucky and should have chosen Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
. In the final Rivals.com recruiting rankings, Orton was considered the third best center in the Class of 2009 and the #22 player overall.
College
Orton was a reserve on the 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, where he averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game. On May 8, 2010 Orton hired an agent and declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
.
NBA
He was picked by the Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
with the 29th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
. On July 1, 2010, Orton signed his rookie contract with the Magic. On December 1, it was announced that Orton would be sent to the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. In his second game for the Thunderbirds, Orton suffered a season-ending knee injury.