Atlanta prep star Dwight Howard may go No. 1 in NBA draft

ATLANTA -- Dwight Howard rattles off names with the same ease that he used to dunk over shorter, slower high school opponents.

Kevin Garnett. He's got the game.

David Robinson. He had the demeanor.

Howard wants to be a little bit like both.

"Kevin Garnett, that's my man right there," Howard said. "I try to do everything close to Kevin Garnett. I watch a lot of his tapes."

And what about Robinson, who retired after leading San Antonio to the NBA championship in 2003?

"He's a silent killer," Howard said. "He doesn't say a lot, but his actions say a lot for him. He got his goals accomplished in life, and that's what I want to do."

Howard will realize one of his goals Thursday night, when he's expected to go first or second in the NBA draft. Nine high school players -- including guards Sebastian Telfair of Brooklyn and Shaun Livingston of Peoria, Ill. -- are also taking the straight-to-the-pros career path, and nearly all are expected to go in the opening round.

Only 18, the 6-foot-10 Howard has a complete set of tools: handles the ball well, shoots the outside jumper, can drive to the basket. While his height suggests a center-in-the-making, he prefers to run the court from either forward position.

"I think center is for old guys," Howard said. "They just sit around the paint and take up space. I personally would rather be out there running."

He could become the second straight high school player to go No. 1, following the impossibly high standards set by last year's top pick. LeBron James brought the Cleveland Cavaliers instant respectability, including a historic 59 percent jump in attendance, more than twice as many wins and a run at the playoffs that fell just short.

Orlando has the No. 1 pick this time, though the Atlanta Hawks -- with two first-round choices -- are trying to trade up and would undoubtedly like to take the hometown star.

"We've worked on it diligently," Hawks general manager Billy Knight said. "Now all we can do is sit back and wait."

The Hawks are in much the same position as Cleveland was a year ago, a poor team that struggles to draw fans. But even if Knight manages to swing a deal for Howard, the teenager isn't likely to have the same impact as James.

The hype factor alone is much lower.

Howard attended a tiny, private school, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, where he was co-president of the student government association and sang in the chorus. His set of wheels? A 1984 Crown Victoria, purchased by his father for $900. Quite different from James, who drove to school in a custom-made Hummer.

"I didn't watch LeBron a lot," Howard said. "I was focused on winning the state championship and getting myself ready for the NBA."

Howard averaged 25 points, 18 rebounds and eight blocks a game as a high school senior, leading Southwest Atlanta to a state championship in the lowest of Georgia's five classifications.

While the school played a national schedule, traveling as far as Delaware and California, Howard also spent many nights going against hopelessly overmatched teams that were forced to guard him with 6-2 and 6-3 players.

He will certainly face a much different level of competition in the NBA, which could pose problems when he tries to post up against frontcourt players that are bigger and stronger than he is.

"I haven't talked to any guys going straight from high school, but the college guys say the same thing," Howard said. "You have to get accustomed to the schedule and the physical play."

On the up side, Howard has all the intangibles that scouts crave. Honor student. Strong family. Impeccable character. Extremely hard worker.

In fact, his admiration of Garnett goes beyond the obvious similarities, such as style of play and skipping college.

"You never find him taking a day off," Howard said. "He is always working to be the best and right now he is at the top of his game. I want to be in his position one day."

Telfair holds the upper hand over Howard, at least at the high school level. He scored 30 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in a February game between their teams.

Then again, the 6-0 Telfair is the shortest high school player to go straight to the pros. That will work against the point guard on draft night.

"I've been dealing with my size all my life," he said. "It hasn't stopped me yet and it's not going to stop me now."

Height isn't a problem for Livingston, a 6-7 point guard. There are concerns over his slender frame, listed at just 175 pounds.

Still, Livingston passed up a chance to play at Duke, finally coming to a decision last week when he hired an agent.

"I get a chance to play against the best players in the world," he said. "That can only bring my game level up."

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AP Sports Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report.