NBA
Who will be the top pick?

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

JOHN DAVID MERCER / AP Emeka Okafor (50) graduated from Connecticut in three years and led the Huskies to the national championship in April.

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Related stories The old 1-2: Players drafted in top two picks

CHICAGO — On either side of the room sits the newest face of the NBA.

They know that when commissioner David Stern steps to the podium for the first time during Thursday's draft, he will call to the stage either Emeka Okafor or Dwight Howard, one of whom gets bragging rights for a lifetime.

"I want to be that guy," Howard says with a brilliant smile.

"I'm your man, baby," says Okafor minutes later.

So who will be No. 1?

To answer that question, you have to get to know these two young men. You need to know that Okafor graduated from Connecticut in three years with a 3.75 grade-point average in finance.

You need to listen to the 6-foot-9 Howard's father, Dwight Sr., when he says that his 18-year-old son is prepared to make the preps-to-pros leap.

"I wouldn't allow him to do this if I didn't think he was ready," he said.

You need to know that the 6-8-3/4 Okafor, who hoisted the national-championship trophy two months ago, will not campaign for the job.

	Dwight Howard says he should go No. 1 on Thursday.

"I've done all that I can do," he said. "For me, talk is cheap. I'm a big fan of going out there and proving it. That's what I did the past three years. I went out there and played and worked hard.

"That's my whole issue. I'm not going to sit up here and say I should be this or they should do X and Y and Z. Nah. I did what I did. You guys saw me. Now make a decision."

If it were only that simple.

A draft class that's pregnant with potential has given birth to a pair of good guys of humble roots who will grand marshal the parade of college players, high-schoolers and international prospects into the NBA.

Each has emerged from a solid family structure and boasts a squeaky-clean résumé. No irresponsible behavior. No drug busts. No battery charges.

"Nah, I've never had problems like that," said Okafor, who was urged to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship but declined because he didn't want to spend two years away from basketball.

"You won't have to worry about me," said Howard, a devout Christian who once drew praise and criticism for saying that he wanted to place a cross on the NBA logo.

Last weekend, they were cast as adversaries by the media types who crowded into a conference room of a Chicago hotel, but were seen fraternizing after the hourlong interview session.

"Hey, y'all supposed to hate each other," Howard's father joked.

Truth be told, there is little bad blood between them. Only when pressed on why he should be selected No. 1 did Howard give in.

"Man, I really hate talking about this," he said. "No offense to Emeka, I just think that offensively, I can bring more to a team. I think my game, as far as what I can do, is more polished. ... I really don't like talking about this because I don't know him and I don't to talk about somebody that I don't know.

"OK, he played in college, but I have been playing since I was 2 years old. There is a lot of stuff that I know that he doesn't. Kevin Garnett didn't go to college, but I know that if you step on the court with him, you'd never know he didn't go to college. The one thing Okafor has on me is he's a lot bigger and stronger. But you are not going to win a fight because you are bigger and stronger. You've got to have the mental focus and heart, and I do."

Told of Howard's comments, Okafor chuckled. He was asked if he is competitive to the point that being chosen No. 1 is important to him.

"If it was a foot race and me and the other guy were racing and I could control it, then yeah, I've got to win," he said. "This is like up to someone else. Being competitive in something you can't control is silly."

It is the Orlando Magic, should it retain the top choice, that must decide if Okafor or Howard is ready to replace star Tracy McGrady, who has asked to be traded.

Selecting the top player in the draft is much like deciding the winner of a beauty pageant.

"You look for who has the most upside," Orlando vice president Pat Williams said. "You look for potential. ... You're taking a guy that has the least flaws and the most potential."

Okafor or Howard?

Scholar or schoolboy?

Finished product or unproven potential?

"I'm hearing two places, Orlando and Atlanta," said Howard, who prepped at Southwest Atlanta Christian High and prefers to play for the Hawks, who would have to trade up to get him. "Orlando in my left ear and Atlanta in my right."

Okafor is even more straightforward.

"I hear Orlando," he said. "I've heard nothing else but Orlando."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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