Canada's Wiggins Is Top Pick Of NBA Draft

The top-end of the draft had an international flavor as four of the first eight players came from outside the United States.

The 19-year-old Wiggins, an athletic, 6-foot-8 (2.03m) guard with great leaping ability who averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds last season as a freshman, joins a Cavs team that was 33-49 last season in the National Basketball Association.

"Just going in and creating impact off the bat," Wiggins, nicknamed "Maple Jordan" for his explosiveness, said about coming to the NBA.

"Just playing my game and have confidence in myself because I have to believe in myself before anyone else can."

The selection of Wiggins made it back-to-back number ones from Canada, as Cleveland made forward Anthony Bennett the first overall pick in 2013. Bennett struggled in his rookie season as he averaged 4.2 points and three rebounds per game.

Jabari Parker of Duke University was taken next by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 19-year-old Parker, a polished offensively-minded forward who averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds as a freshman last season, was happy to join Milwaukee, which is about a 90-minute drive from his hometown of Chicago.

"I'm really excited," said Parker. "You know I get to represent the city of Chicago but also the city of Milwaukee and the whole Midwest, those Great Lakes, Lake Michigan. It feels real good."

Cameroon's Joel Embiid from the University of Kansas, the potential defensive ace of the draft, was taken with the third pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Embiid, a 7-foot center with outstanding defensive skills, averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game as a freshman despite missing the postseason tournaments because of a back injury.

The 20-year-old Embiid, who had been projected as the possible number one pick, had recent foot surgery but it did not diminish his NBA appeal by much in being the third player taken.

"I just can't believe it," Embiid, who could not come to New York because of his surgery, told NBA TV. "It just shows that anything is possible."

Power forward Aaron Gordon of Arizona was selected fourth by the Orlando Magic before the Utah Jazz continued the international trend by taking 18-year-old Australian guard Dante Exum with the fifth pick, despite no college experience.

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, not accustomed to picking so high in the annual draft that rewards teams with poor records the higher picks, followed in the order.

Boston took bruising point guard Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State, while the Lakers chose power forward Julius Randle from Kentucky.

Canada then claimed another spot in the top 10 when the Sacramento Kings picked shooting guard Nik Stauskas from Michigan with the eighth choice.

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Frank Pingue/Mark Lamport-Stokes)