EL SEGUNDO. – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball star Franklin Session was selected in the sixth round by the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the 2011 NBA Development League draft on Thursday.
 
Session was one of eight players taken by the D-Fenders in Thursday's draft. The D-Fenders are the Development League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
The D-Fenders selected eight-year NBA veteran Jamaal Tinsley with their first pick. The other seven draft picks were Anthony Gurley (Massachusetts), Eniel Polynice (Seton Hall), Brandon Rozzell (Virginia Commonwealth), Courtney Fortson (Arkansas), Session, Robert Diggs (George Washington) and Troy Payne (Santa Clara). Those eight will join eight players who either tried out locally or are returning from the 2010-11 Utah Flash for a 16-player roster.
 
“I'm excited for Franklin and believe it's very well deserved,” Cal State L.A. Head Coach Stephen Thompson said. “He came to Cal State L.A. and had a great senior season. He really worked hard for this opportunity.”
 
Session had an outstanding season last year for the Golden Eagles. He led the team and was third in the conference in scoring with 16.3 points per game. He also led the conference in steals with 2.5 per game and he was second in the team and fourth in the conference in rebounding with 7.6 rebounds per game.
 
He received CCAA Player of the Week honors after helping the Golden Eagles record home wins over Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona on back-to-back nights in the Eagles Nest last December.
 
He helped the Golden Eagles to a 15-13 overall record last season and to a first-ever CCAA Championship Tournament victory, a 66-60 win over Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Eric Musselman is the head coach of the D-Fenders.