Evans, Henderson, Ellington picked in first round; Dante picked 33rd

Tyreke Evans, a 6-5 freshman guard from American Christian and the University of Memphis, was the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft. Evans was selected by the Sacramento Kings. Gerald Henderson (Duke and Episcopal Academy) and Wayne Ellington (North Carolina and Episcopal Academy) also were first-round selections. Henderson was taken 12th by the Charlotte Bobcats and Ellington was picked 28th by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Villanova senior Dante Cunningham was picked in the second round, at No. 33, by the Portland Trail Blazers. Cunningham, 22, is a 6-8, 230-pound small forward. He led the Final Four Wildcats in scoring (16.1), rebounding (7.5), blocks (47) and field-goal percentage (52.5).

Evans, 19, of Chester, was in Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan with his family when the pick was announced. Draft experts said Evans was expected to be selected somewhere from the second to eighth pick. Evans was freshman of the year in Conference USA last season.

Henderson, 21, is a 6-5 shooting guard who led the Blue Devils in scoring at 16.5 a game last season. Henderson, son of former Sixer Gerald Henderson, saw his stock rising as he got closer to draft night.

"I talked to Michael [Jordan, Bobcats part-owner) about it and we can't believe we did it," Charlotte coach Larry Brown joked about selecting Henderson. Brown and Jordan, of course, are North Carolina Tar Heels, the biggest rivals of Henderson's Duke Blue Devils.

Ellington, famously, was Henderson's high school teammate at Episcopal. He is 21 years old, a 6-4, 200-pound junior, who was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, won by UNC. He averaged 14.7 points in his UNC career and scored in double figures in 95 of 115 games. He earned All-ACC Tournament honors all 3 years. He started 112 of 115 games at UNC.

Saint Joseph's forward Ahmad Nivins was selected 56th by the Dallas Mavericks. Nivins, 22, is a 6-9, 235-pounder who led the Hawks in scornig (19.2), rebounding (11.8), field-goal percentage (61.2), blocked shots (1.8) and free-throw percentage (78.7).

Temple guard Dionte Christmas was not drafted. The NBA draft consists of 60 picks over two rounds.