I was wrong. Okafor was the number 2 pick. The Bobcats selected him. A prep student named Dwight Howard was the number 1 pick by the Orlando Magic. In fact, 8 high schoolers and only three college seniors (during the time I was watching) were chosen during the first round.
Jameer Nelson, number 20 pick by the Denver Nuggets, was miffed to be passed over for the teens given his ungracious comments to a TV reporter. This is not your father's NBA, Jameer. Get used to it. But given all the media hype about him and his popularity with the fans, it's understandable that J.M. must of felt like Howard Dean after Iowa.
There were no funky outfits to be seen - conservative suits galore and talk about God from the first two picks and one of their dads.
Bottom line: The mind boggles at the thought of these 18 and 19 year olds who will make millions of dollars. Sadly, some will get into moral scrapes. At least Dwight Howard's dad - a state trooper - said his son would have a support system for the next year. If you're going to swim in those deep waters as a high-school grad, adult support seems crucial to steer clear of the sharks.
