June 29, 2000

Anyone who still questioned whether Darius Miles is destined to be a star got an answer at last night's NBA Draft.

It's not because the East St. Louis High (Ill.) graduate made history by becoming the highest-drafted high schooler in NBA history, going No. 3 overall to the L.A. Clippers. And it's not because he's heading to Hollywood, land of the stars.

	Miles went at number three to the L.A. Clippers.

No, what truly proves Miles' star quality is the poise with which he handled the biggest day of his 18-year-old life. While some draftees responded with tears and others jumped for joy, Miles, dressed in a simple gray suit with a white shirt and tie, strode confidently to the podium, flashed the smile that will be seen in TV commercials everywhere in a few years and actually gave NBA commissioner David Stern a hug.

"I think he's ready for [the NBA]," Miles' mother told TNT in a post-draft interview. "In the last year, he's really matured."

Miles wasn't the only prep player tabbed in the first round though, as Washington Union High's (Calif.) DeShawn Stevenson went No. 23 overall to the Utah Jazz.

"Everyone screamed and yelled and jumped all around," Stevenson told SchoolSports.com in the moments following his selection. "They were real happy for me. I kind of needed that."

But Miles may have been the draft's biggest story. By going at No. 3, Miles became the highest-drafted high schooler in NBA history. Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) went No. 5 in 1995, as did Jonathan Bender (Indiana) last year.

Miles was projected to go anywhere from No. 3-5, but most pundits had him slotted at No. 4 to Chicago. When the Clippers took him with the third pick, speculation arose that the teen was headed to Orlando in a trade.

But as the night wore on, it became increasingly clear the Clippers intended on keeping this gem for themselves. And for his part, Miles seems genuinely excited about the prospect of playing for the team that finished last season with the worst record in the NBA.

"I wish I can play for the Clippers," Miles told ESPN.com's Andy Katz. "That's the team that picked me. I didn't plan on going there, but they picked me. I was prepared for anybody to take me. I'm just happy they picked me. This is fun stuff. On the court, it's business. Being with the Clippers is going to be fun."

The Clippers, considered by many to be the worst franchise in all of professional sports, improved their team tremendously on draft night. In addition to drafting Miles, they also traded for No. 10 pick Keyon Dooling from Missouri and then drafted Miles' good friend, Quentin Richardson, from nearby DePaul, with the 18th pick.

"I'm staying with the Clippers," Miles said after learning that Richardson had been picked. "That's a million-dollar pick right there."

While Miles will likely get significant playing time as a rookie for the suddenly exciting Clippers, Stevenson stands to see more pine than hardwood next year.

He does, however, have the luxury of going to a stable team that can allow him the time he needs to develop. Although the Jazz need a starting shooting guard after Jeff Hornacek's retirement, Stevenson probably isn't the guy to fill those shoes next season, as Utah is unlikely to give a high schooler significant playing time on a team hoping to contend for an NBA title.

But few doubt that Stevenson will be a star someday.

"Most of the guys who come out of high school are not physically ready," said analyst Kenny Smith during TNT's broadcast of the draft. "This guy (Stevenson) is physically ready.

"He's going to be a starting two guard in the NBA for a very long time."