MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota became Wally's World when the Minnesota Timberwolves chose Wally Szczerbiak with their first pick in the NBA draft Wednesday.

The Timberwolves selected Duke point guard William Avery with their second first-round pick.

Szczerbiak, the No. 6 overall pick, is a 6-7 forward from Miami of Ohio whose draft stock rose dramatically in recent months.

Avery, the 14th pick, started all of Duke's 39 games as a sophomore last year, averaging 14.9 points per game.

Both players were among the best shooters in the draft. The Timberwolves sorely lacked quality outside shooting last season.

"We got two of the three best shooters in the draft," said Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale.

In the NCAA Tournament last March, Szczerbiak brought national attention to Miami, scoring a career-high 43 points against Washington as Miami reached the regional semifinals.

Szczerbiak worked out for the Timberwolves last week and impressed management with his maturity and his long-range shooting.

"Wally was the best shooter in college basketball this season," said Marty Blake, the NBA's scouting director.

Szczerbiak said his game is a perfect match for the Timberwolves.

"I couldn't be happier where I'm going," he said. "As an incoming college player, to be going to a team that made the playoffs last year is a wonderful opportunity for me."

Unlike many of this year's top picks, Szczerbiak spent four years in college, improving steadily each season.

He is the RedHawk's career 3-point shooting leader and ranks second in scoring, field goals made and 3-pointers made. He averaged 24.2 points per game last season, and 24.4 points his junior year.

Although Szczerbiak didn't face top-level competition with Miami, NBA insiders don't expect that to hinder his game, since Szczerbiak has proved himself in international competition.

"He was the key to the USA Basketball team that won the gold at the Goodwill Games," Blake said.

Szczerbiak was the leading scorer on the U.S. team that won the gold medal. Szczerbiak praised Goodwill Games coach Clem Haskins, who was ousted last week as coach at the University of Minnesota.

"As for Clem Haskins, he's probably the reason I'm sitting here at No. 6," he said. "I just have nothing but praise and thanks for him."

Szczerbiak comes from a strong basketball background. His father, Walt Szczerbiak, starred with Real Madrid in the mid-1970s in Spain, after playing for the American Basketball Association's Pittsburgh Condors.

Szczerbiak, 22, provides a cushion for the Timberwolves, who could lose forward Joe Smith later this summer to free agency.

And Avery, who is only 19, could be the Timberwolves' top point guard if Terrell Brandon leaves via free agency. Brandon, acquired in the Stephon Marbury trade in March, has said he'll test the market.

Coach Flip Saunders, a former point guard at the University of Minnesota, said he's looking forward to helping Avery develop his game. He said the guard has some areas in need of improvement.

"He's young. He's going to mature," Saunders said. "He just helps strengthen our backcourt. He's going to have to work on his ball handling."

Marbury was also just 19 when he came to the Timberwolves in 1996, and McHale said it's fair to draw a few comparisons between Marbury and Avery.

"Avery's a much better shooter at this stage," said McHale. "I think Marbury was better with the ball."

The Timberwolves chose 6-2 Michigan guard Louis Bullock in the second round, with 42nd overall pick. Then they traded him to the Orlando Magic for an undisclosed amount of cash.