NEW YORK, June 24 (UPI) -- The Orlando Magic made high school sensation Dwight Howard the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Thursday night.
Howard became the third high school player in four years to be chosen with the top pick.
In choosing Howard, the Magic bypassed the player most scouts felt was ready to become an instant pro star -- Connecticut's Emeka Okafor.
Okafor went second to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. Okafor's college teammate, guard Ben Gordon, was chosen third by the Chicago Bulls.
Another high school player, Shaun Livingston, went fourth to the Los Angeles Clippers. Wisconsin guard Devin Harris went fifth to Washington, but Harris is headed to Dallas as part of a pre-draft trade.
There was speculation Harris might be used as part of a package put together by Dallas in an attempt to trade for Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said, however, that Harris would be Dallas' point guard of the future.
Howard was one of eight high school players chosen in the opening round of the draft. There were 15 players taken from American colleges and five players from European leagues selected in the first round.
