Sonics clog middle with Senegal’s Sene

SEATTLE – The Seattle SuperSonics went with another project in Wednesday’s NBA draft, selecting 7-footer Mouhamed Saer Sene from Senegal with the 10th pick.

It’s the third consecutive year the Sonics have selected a young, inexperienced big man in the first round. Seattle selected Robert Swift with the 12th pick in 2004 and they took Johan Petro with the 25th pick last year.

Neither Swift nor Petro played a minute of college basketball. Sene spent last year playing for Verviers-Pepinster of the Belgium Division I League.

Despite his lack of quality playing experience, Seattle officials could not pass on Sene’s 7-9 wingspan and his shot-blocking ability. Born in Thies, Senegal, the 20-year-old Sene was brought in for two workouts by the Sonics, and general manager Rick Sund became confident he would fall to Seattle.

“I think you need centers in this league and they’re hard to come by,” Sund said. “We’ve got three young guys and they all play a little bit different. But we wanted some length.”

Seattle took Connecticut guard Denham Brown with the No. 40 pick in the second round and guard Yotam Halperin of Israel at No. 53. Halperin is expected to stay in Israel for at least one more season.