The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft came from Kentucky. The No. 2 pick came from Kentucky. Plus No. 18. And No. 29. No wonder Kentucky won it all.
The NCAA champion Wildcats became the first team in history to land the top two picks in the collegiate draft Thursday night when freshman Anthony Davis, the overwhelming consensus top choice, went to New Orleans No. 1 followed by fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, whose selection at No. 2 by Charlotte, was the night’s initial surprise. The Wildcats saw sophomore forward Terrence Jones taken 18th by Houston and another freshman, guard Marquis Teague, go at No. 29 to Chicago.
“It’s crazy. Michael is a great player,” Davis said of Kidd-Gilchrist. Being at the top of the selections at Prudential Center in Newark was “undescribable,” Davis said. “A great feeling. I’ve wanted this all my life and it’s finally here.”
Though Davis was as sure a bet as death, taxes and the Knicks selling out a game or two next season, he admitted he “couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat lunch” and tried on his suit again and again leading up to a heavily booed NBA commissioner David Stern officially making him the first choice. Davis was the National Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four who led Kentucky to the NCAA title. New Orleans also had the 10th pick and chose guard Austin Rivers, Doc’s kid, from Duke.
Kidd-Gilchrist, earlier in the season, had been projected as the possible No. 2 pick. But with questions about his shooting skills, he slipped — not too far — on most mock drafts. And when he wound up back at No. 2, “I was shocked at first,” Kidd-Gilchrist said. “Shocked.”
Thomas Robinson of Kansas, an athletic 6-foot-9 power forward seen by most as the potential No. 2, dropped to No. 5 where he was selected by Sacramento.
“I really didn’t know where I was going to end up,” an emotional Robinson said. “But it is a bit of a surprise.”
There were surprises throughout the night, including St. John’s Moe Harkless going 15th to Philadelphia. And power forward Perry Jones III of Baylor plunging to the Thunder at No. 28.
“I just want the opportunity to play,” said Jones III, who hurt his stock by returning to school for a sophomore season.
The SEC continued a stranglehold on the top rungs of the draft when Florida scoring guard Bradley Beal, yet another freshman, went to Washington at No. 3. Syracuse guard Dion Waiters helped the Big East stop the SEC steamroller when Cleveland made him the No. 4 pick. Waiters will join last year’s No. 1 overall selection and reigning Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving, in the Cavaliers backcourt.
The Trail Blazers used the No. 6 pick, which they received from the Nets in the Gerald Wallace trade, on point guard Damian Lillard of Weber State, the first player drafted from that school in 40 years. The Blazers at No. 11 fetched 7-foot-1 center Myers Leonard of Illinois.
North Carolina also had four first-rounders. Tar Heel products were forward Harrison Barnes to Golden State at No. 7, back-to-back picks guard Kendall Marshall at No. 13 to Phoenix and shot blocking forward John Henson at No. 14 to Milwaukee. The 17th pick, center Tyler Zeller, was reportedly going to Cleveland for the 24th pick (Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham) and two second rounders.
Connecticut had two lottery picks: 6-foot-10 center Andre Drummond (9, Detroit) and guard Jeremy Lamb (12, Houston).
The Knicks, like the Nets, were without a first round pick — they had traded the eventual 16th to Houston in the Jared Jeffries deal — and the Rockets selected Iowa State power forward Royce White. The Knicks’ second round pick (No. 48), 6-foot-8 Kostas Papanikolaou from Greece, was booed soundly. The Nets drafted Turkey’s Ilkan Karaman 57th after obtaining the 41st pick and taking Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor.
The Celtics made very popular crowd picks — Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger (21) and two Syracuse guys, center Fab Melo (22) and forward Kris Joseph (51).
In addition to the constant booing of Stern, a loud moment came in the second round when Florida State forward Bernard James, 27, who did three tours with the Air Force was picked 33d by Cleveland (likely for Dallas) and the crowd chanted, “USA, USA” with overwhelming approval.