Washington selects Otto Porter with No. 3 overall pick in NBA Draft

NEW YORK -- For all the uncertainty hanging over this year's NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards settled on familiarity when it came their turn to pick.

Otto Porter Jr., the former Scott Country Central High School standout who played his collegiate ball at Georgetown University, was selected by the Wizards with the third overall selection in the draft, held Thursday night at Barclay's Center in New York City.

Porter had already felt that there was a good chance that he would be a Wizard, and he got confirmation about two minutes before NBA commissioner David Stern walked toward a lectern and paused before making the announcement. That's when Wizards owner and Georgetown alum Ted Leonsis called Porter to let him know that he was the pick.

"It's a dream come true to get drafted and then getting a chance to play in D.C., where I played two years in college. It's a true blessing," Porter said. "This is what I've been working for. This is all the hard work in the gym, not playing AAU, and this moment right now is just unbelievable."

It ended what little suspense remained for the Wizards after the Cleveland Cavaliers took UNLV forward Anthony Bennett first overall and the Orlando Magic selected Indiana guard and former DeMatha standout Victor Oladipo with the No. 2 pick. And it also validated Porter's unorthodox path to the NBA, which included summers spent cleaning his high school gym so that he could practice rather than participating in the recruiting den of AAU hoops.

After hearing Stern call his name, Porter hugged his parents, Otto Sr. and Elnora, and little brother Jeffrey, then embraced his agent, David Falk, and Georgetown coach John Thompson III. Porter became the first lottery selection from Georgetown since Jeff Green went fifth overall in 2007.

Afterward, the kid known as "Bubba" back home in his native Morely, Mo., held back tears as he attempted to describe the emotions of sharing the moment with his loved ones.

"It was amazing to see the smile on his face," Porter said of his father, "and my mom's face. All the hard work they put in raising me the right way, it's finally paid off for them."

In one of the most intriguing and unpredictable drafts in recent memory, at least six players arrived at the arena -- including Porter -- all believing that they had a legitimate chance to go first overall.

The Wizards' choice of Porter was too obvious to overlook, given his local ties and natural fit with a franchise that has already begun to draft and develop its backcourt of the present and future in John Wall and Bradley Beal. They also hope that the 6-foot-8 Porter could be the complementary piece to help them end a five-year postseason drought.

Trenton Pulley, left, captures the scene on his phone as Corey Porter celebrates during a watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Sikeston, Mo., after NBA commissioner David Stern announced that Corey's cousin Otto Porter was selected by the Washington Wizards with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft Thursday, June 27. Porter played for Scott County Central High School before attending Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Corey plays on the Southeast Missouri State Football Team. (Adam Vogler)

"We're very fortunate to get him. I think he's a very versatile player, fits in very well with what we we're trying to do.

He's a mature person, plays several positions, a good defensive player, real team oriented guy, and we're pleased to have him," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said. "He has the total package. He has good work ethic. He's a team player. He can do multiple things out on the floor. He can guard several positions, and he's a young player who we think could be with us for many, many years to come and fits in well with what we're trying to do as far as Bradley and John are concerned."

During his time at Georgetown, Porter discovered that his name means "wealth" in German. Porter has now stepped into riches beyond his imagination, but the salutatorian of his high school graduating class said he "definitely" still plans to pursue his degree. He said he is elated that the man writing his checks knows the meaning of "Hoya Saxa," which is the official cheer of Georgetown University.

"That's a positive to my side," Porter said. "That's a win-win situation."