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"I declare June 28, 2012 Damian Lillard Day in Ogden."
With that declaration from Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell, the Damian Lillard draft day celebration got underway in downtown Ogden Thursday night.
It didn't take very long for Weber State fans to get what they came for. When NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that Lillard, the Wildcats second all time leading scorer in school history, was the sixth pick in the first round by the Portland Trailblazers, the crowd of over one thousand jumped up and celebrated a victory for Damian, Weber State and the city of Ogden.
"Damian deserves it. He has done so much to bring Weber State and the city together," proclaimed WSU student body president Andrew Gardiner.
Lillard's college head coach Randy Rahe couldn't help but feel like a proud father on Thursday.
"Ya I guess I do. I am so proud of how he has grown from a 17 year old kid when he came here to ..... a man!"
One Wildcat fan couldn't help but throw a 'jab' at rival BYU when he proudly exclaimed, "Last year the state was all excited about a number 10 pick (referring to former BYU Cougar Jimmer Fredette selected 10th by Sacramento), now we are moving up with number 6."
As a 6th overall pick, Lillard is the only Weber State player to ever be drafted in the first round (14 Wildcats drafted previously) and is the first Wildcat to be drafted in any round in 27 years.
