Media Day for the Draft started in a room set up to meet the players invited to New York by the NBA. There were 11 tables, one for each of the players not named "LeBron," "Darko" or "Carmelo."

Moving counter-clockwise from the room's entryway:

No, not Darko ... I'm Zarko, with a "Z": Zarko Cabarkapa is a 22-year-old, 6-foot-11 mystery man from Zrenjanin, Serbia. Which begs the question: Will he soon release a rap single: "It's All About Zrenjanin (Baby)"? He spoke through a pleasant-enough translator, to be played by Burt Young in "Zarko: The Movie." But if body language is universal, this kid spoke volumes. Slouched with his shoulders hunched far over his body, he wasn't exactly screaming "Confident to be in America!"

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Meanwhile, from the other end of the P.R. spectrum: Nick Collison held court in front of a constant crowd of reporters. Up close, his upper body is as frail as the rumors from his less-than-stellar weight workouts indicate. He was talking about something related to Kansas' winning tradition. Yawn.

Go ahead and just call him "Magic Lamp": Sporting a shiner he said he got at a Miami Heat workout (go figure), Maciej Lampe was the room's other mystery foreigner. Considering he might be Your Fifth Overall Pick, he also drew a ton of interest from reporters. He didn't want to compare himself to any current player, even though the reporters seemed intent on wedging him (and the rest of the Euroleaguers) into the "Nowitzki" box.

Funny, I missed the day pool sheets were handed out: Georgia swingman (swinging, apparently, between shooting and more shooting) Jarvis Hayes said that all the attention he was getting as part of the Draftee Posse was "my NCAA Tournament."

The Big Three

Carmelo, Darko and LeBron got much better treatment. Their own room, one-at-a-time attention, even better snacks. Carmelo went first, wearing a comfortable-looking cream linen suit with a black T-shirt. His watch had a large diamond-crusted bezel. He was confident, mentioning that while LeBron was the No. 1 pick, that didn't necessarily mean he was the draft class' No. 1 player. (Presumably, he meant himself.) Sporting his now-trademark blond tips, Darko went second, with a translator in tow. Not sure the salons in Novi Sad, Montenegro can compete with the ones in NYC. Given that he spoke no English, it was hard to get a read on him through the translator lag, but one detail says a lot: At the end of his session, as he pulled back from the table, he smirked, in his best Ah-nold: "I'll be back." LeBron was the headliner. I had never seen him in person, was absolutely blown away by his poise, particularly factoring in that he's only 18. He already carries himself -- and articulates himself -- like he's one of elder statesmen of the NBA (without sounding arrogant). He thinks he can average double-figures in scoring next season. He's anxious about shaking David Stern's hand at the podium on draft night. He wasn't bored by the NBA Finals. "Everything" can improve about his game. His message to Cavs fans: "I'm coming." Off the court, at least, he's better than advertised. --Dan Shanoff

That would be, of course, because his Georgia coach ruined what should have been his actual NCAA Tournament. Asked how he'd spend his new rookie loot, he said he'd buy his parents their dream house. Yeah, yeah, but for yourself? A BMW 745. That's what I'm talking about.

Yes, but remember he can crush you: Widebody Michael Sweetney couldn't have been a more pleasant person. He said he enjoys mellow music, will offer Commissioner David Stern a conventional handshake at the draft podium ("no [fist] pounds") and mentioned that his dream celebrity girlfriend is Ashanti.

Apparently, Ashanti is in demand: Let's hope Reece Gaines and Sweetney don't end up on the same team, because there may be a Jason Kidd/Jimmy Jackson/Toni Braxton-caliber struggle over Ashanti, who Gaines also thinks might make a nice celebrity honey.

Chalked it up to rubbernecking: . . . like at the scene of a traffic accident. T.J. Ford was surrounded for the entire session, perhaps because his rumored draft-stock slide is one of the key stories heading into draft night. Made me glad Ford himself didn't ring the bell at the NY Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning. (The bullish NYSE knew enough to let LeBron have that honor.)

Chris Kaman is tall: And I didn't get around to talking with him, though I overheard that he's wearing a black suit with blue pinstripes on Draft Night. If he ends up being picked by the Knicks, the draft-watchers in the Garden may riot.

Speaking of draft fashion: Dwyane Wade said his choice of suit will be a game-time decision, but whichever he picks will be conservative. No hats? Uh, no. "I want to show my face."

Something about point guards: Like T.J. Ford, Kirk Hinrich was also mobbed. Up close, he seems kind of scrawny; but considering he can dunk and I can't, he gets the benefit of the doubt.

Chris Bosh looks his young 19 years: But considering the guy's stock has risen to just below the Big Three, he couldn't have come off more even-keeled. When I asked him about his draft-night fashion, "What does your suit say about you?" He responded "calm and relaxed." With that attitude, he'd fit in nicely in laid-back Seattle.

Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. His "Daily Quickie" commentary appears every weekday morning.