Irvine’s Doktorczyk Is No. 1 in CBA : San Jose Makes Forward the League’s First Pick in Draft

Mike Doktorczyk of UC Irvine was the first player chosen in the Continental Basketball Assn. draft Thursday.

Doktorczyk, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward who averaged 15.9 points a game last season, was selected by the San Jose Jammers.

“I was talking to a lot of teams, but this was definitely a surprise,” Doktorczyk said. “I talked to (San Jose) before the draft--I didn’t know they had the first pick--and I told them it would be great to stay near home.”

Doktorczyk also led Irvine by making 51.9% of his three-point attempts.

Doktorczyk--who was not selected in the National Basketball Assn. draft--will attend the Chicago Bulls’ rookie camp Saturday. He was also contacted by the Detroit Pistons--who invited him to their rookie camp on Monday--and the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I thought Chicago was the best place for me,” Doktorczyk said. “Detroit seems like too much of a powerhouse, and things fell through with Milwaukee.”

After rookie camp, Doktorczyk said he will participate in the Loyola Marymount Summer Pro League.

Doktorczyk has been contacted by teams in France and Germany, which would pay more than a CBA team, but he said he’ll choose whatever team gives him the best chance of making the NBA.