Early came late for the Knicks.
The Knicks selected small forward Cleanthony Early, an upstate Middletown product, with the 34th pick of the draft. Early, who starred at Wichita State, was projected in some mock drafts as a first-rounder.
The Bronx-born senior averaged 16.3 points per game in 27 minutes and was a high-energy scorer who led Wichita State to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four berth two years ago and an unbeaten regular season in 2013-14. Early played at Pine Bush High in Orange County.
Early moved upstate at age 14 after being raised in The Bronx and has an eerie similarity to Carmelo Anthony in body type and scoring prowess.
“I’m a New York kid,’’ he told The Post’s Steve Serby in March. “I grew up in The Bronx. I’ve been in Brooklyn, I’ve been in Queens, I’ve played basketball a lot of places in New York. It’s pretty much the same, it’s that gritty attitude, that New York City swag.’’
The Knicks nabbed three prospects on Draft Night after not having a pick 24 hours before the draft. With their 51st pick, the Knicks took defensive specialist swingman Thanasis Antetokounmpo of Greece, a 21-year-old who played last season in the D-League.
His younger brother Giannis, a small forward known as “the Greek Freak,” had a solid rookie year for the Bucks. The Knicks had acquired Dallas’ 34th and 51st pick in the blockbuster trade Wednesday.
Then at midnight Thursday, Knicks president Phil Jackson was still working, buying the 57th pick from Indiana to take French center Louis Labeyrie, whom they likely will stash in the French League. The Knicks have added seven players in the past two days.
“Everybody says I’m a good athlete, that I have a lot of energy and that I really have a love of the game,” Antetokounmpo told USA Today this week. “The things I do best is that I have a good work ethic, have good character. I’m a reliable person. I’m a person you can depend on doing stuff. I’m a humble person and the thing that drives me is the love for my family and the game.”
The Knicks failed to move up into the first round with the asking price too high, the club reluctant to give up Iman Shumpert.
Jackson held a press conference before the draft but did not comment afterward.
Asked about the type of player he was seeking, Jackson said, “We’ve earmarked players who will give the team some of the things we’re looking for — activity, peppiness, guys who get after balls for steals and interceptions. That’s one of the directions we’re going.’’