El Dorado-native Daniel Gafford was a second-round NBA draft pick Thursday night, being selected 38th in the draft by the Chicago Bulls.
“He is a great young man who was a blessing, not just to coach, but to be around. He works very hard and will continue to work hard to be a better player and provider for his family. Our Wildcat family is very proud of him,” said El Dorado High School boys basketball coach Gary Simmons. “I told him before the draft started that I wasn’t worried about the round he was drafted or whether he was drafted 1st or 50th. My wife and I just prayed that he would be drafted by people who would care for him and to a staff that would help him to become the player he wanted to be.”
Simmons said Gafford found his way onto the court in a roundabout way. Former eighth-grade boys basketball coach Landon Dover saw the then 6 foot 6 inch-tall junior high schooler walking the halls with his band equipment, so he called Simmons to let him know he needed to make space on the roster.
“The rest is history,” Simmons said.
In his time playing center for the El Dorado Wildcats, Gafford was named All-State and helped lead the team to the 6A state finals in 2017, his senior year.
He was a constant target for fouls once his skill on the court became evident, but managed to immediately make waves when he joined the University of Arkansas’ Razorbacks, being named the SEC Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week after his first game with the team.
“I am excited for him to be a Bull and walk past the statue of Michael Jordan each day,” Simmons said. “They will do a good job with Daniel.”
Gafford could be seen with a wide smile as he tried and failed to hold back tears after his draft selection was announced Thursday night. Friends and family surrounded him with congratulations.
“Woke up this morning and still couldn’t believe it,” he wrote on his Facebook page yesterday. He was not able to be reached by press time for additional comment.
“I am very happy for Daniel! He deserves this success and accomplishment. He put in a lot of work to achieve this,” said El Dorado School District Superintendent Jim Tucker. “Myself, the City of El Dorado and the school district are very happy and proud of him!”
Now, Gafford will serve as a source of inspiration for student athletes hoping to follow in his footsteps.
“I think it’s pretty awesome because he’s kind of a hometown hero here, like everybody thinks he’s just awesome, and you know, going to school with him was awesome,” said former EHS athlete Allie David, who now attends Southern Arkansas University. “I was like ‘you’re tall – let’s be friends.’ … He’s very humble.”
Current El Dorado High School students see Gafford as a role model.
“I think it’s good for the community. I think he’s got the potential to be great in the NBA,” said Emon Ingram, a senior at EHS.
The celebrations have even made their way to the outlying areas around El Dorado.
“It’s amazing. He’s going to rep El Dorado and I’m really happy for him!” said Preston Stivender, a senior at Parkers Chapel High School.
In an interview with KARK news, Gafford thanked all the people who have supported him in his athletic career.
“It’s like magic,” he said to a KARK reporter, voice shaking. “To all the people that believed in me, I appreciate it. I appreciate it all.”
Check page 1B for more coverage of Gafford’s move to the Chicago Bulls.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].