Three local players selected in NBA Draft

Newspaper journalists believe they’ve seen it all, so nothing really surprises them. But when NBA Commissioner David Stern stepped to the lectern Thursday night to unveil the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft — even pausing a couple of seconds to exacerbate the surprise — and announced the Cleveland Cavaliers had selected Anthony Bennett, jaws dropped around the entire Review-Journal newsroom (which is actually two rooms, for those keeping score).

Mr. Bennett had a strong freshman year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas after starring at Henderson’s Findlay Prep, having left his native Canada years ago to pursue his basketball ambitions. He was sure to be an early selection in Thursday’s draft, but even for those who think they know, Mr. Bennett going No. 1 was entirely unexpected.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have been. Over the past few years, and even more so over the past few months, Southern Nevada has proved itself a haven for generating athletic talent at the highest levels, particularly in baseball and golf, and now reconfirming its status in basketball. Mr. Bennett helped Findlay Prep win the National High School Invitational in 2012 — the squad’s third national title in four years — and was considered one of the nation’s top college prospects. He played one year for the Rebels, then became just the second No. 1 overall pick out of UNLV, joining Larry Johnson.

As it turned out, Southern Nevada’s fingerprints were all over the draft, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Former Bishop Gorman High School and UCLA swingman Shabazz Muhammad, who like Mr. Bennett left college after a solid freshman year, had to wait a little longer than he might have liked. He was drafted 14th overall by the Utah Jazz, then quickly was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Still, there’s no shame in being a lottery pick.

For that matter, there’s no shame in being a second-round pick, either. Baylor’s Pierre Jackson, a Desert Pines High School product, was chosen 42nd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, who then traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Indeed, hoop dreams were realized Thursday night, and difficult dreams at that. NBA rosters are the smallest of any of the major American team sports, at just 13 active spots per team, for a total of 390 players in the 30-team league. Messrs. Bennett, Muhammad and Jackson can take pride in having reached that level, and Las Vegans should share in their pride and celebrate their achievements.