http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1088150194158130.xml N.O. ADDS YOUNG GUN Hornets take prep sharpshooter J.R. Smith with first-round pick Friday, June 25, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer Two days before the NBA draft, Hornets general manager Allan Bristow didn't seem thrilled about the possibility of eight high school players getting selected in the first round. Bristow suggested that a league-imposed minimum age requirement would be a good idea because of the amount of time it takes most high school players to develop. On Thursday night, Bristow put all of that aside and selected shooting guard J.R. Smith, a high school player, with their first-round pick, the 18th overall. It came a day after Hornets coach Byron Scott said hepreferred not to pick a high school player. "We all prefer that, I think the whole NBA prefers that," Bristow said. "This is the way it is. We were surrounded by high school players with our pick. I think it was just one of those things where you have to go with the flow. You just have to do what is right. And what was right was to draft J.R. Smith." The Hornets were impressed by Smith's 44-inch vertical jump and the potential he showed at several postseason all-star games, including the McDonald's All-Star game where he was the co-MVP with Dwight Howard, the No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic. With David Wesley struggling with a toe injury last season and Courtney Alexander missing the entire season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon, a pressing need for the Hornets was to improve at shooting guard. With their pick in the second round, the 44th overall, the Hornets selected Tim Pickett of Florida State, who can play both guard positions. "I think you certainly can't get everything in one selection or one player," Bristow said. "We think he's (Smith) going to be a tremendous asset to our current team as well as our future. He's going to be one of the outstanding off guards in this league for a long, long time. We feel good about both of our selections." Scott said when he was hired last month that his priority is to get the roster more athletic and younger. Smith, 18, can run the floor and shoot from outside. During his senior season at St. Benedict's Prep, in Newark, N.J., Smith, 6 feet 6, averaged 23.9 points and 5.0 steals. He set school single-season records for points (700), 3-pointers (108) and field-goal percentage (.541). "I said sometimes high school players scare you," Scott said. "We got an extremely good basketball player in J.R. This kid's upside, his athleticism, the way he can shoot the ball, the range he has. The way he gets up and down the floor fits our style and some of the things that we want to do. "Obviously, it's going to take him some time to understand what this league is all about and he's probably going to struggle at times, but we're really excited about having J.R. on board." The Hornets had Smith rated among the top 13 picks, Bristow said. "I feel comfortable in what I can do," Smith said Thursday night by telephone. "I can definitely contribute to the team right away. I think I can definitely prove it on the court. Coach Scott told me that he was glad they were able to get me. . . . I just can't wait to get down there." Smith will arrive in New Orleans today to meet with team officials. The Hornets worked out 24 prospects before the draft, but Smith wasn't among them. "They wanted me to come in and work out, but we just couldn't get together," Smith said. "But they had talked with my agent (Arn Tellem)." It was the second consecutive year the Hornets selected 18th overall. Last year they picked David West in the first round, and he made an impact last season, playing in 71 games and averaging 3.8 points. Smith is the third high school player drafted by the Hornets. In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant and then traded him to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Last year the Hornets selected James Lang, who played at Central Park Christian School in Birmingham, Ala., with their second-round pick. Lang was waived and did not play in a regular-season game. As Bristow expected, eight high school players were taken in the first round, including two of the first four picks. Meanwhile, retiring executive vice president of basketball operations Bob Bass worked his final draft for the team. He retires next week. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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