The 2004 NBA Draft

Dec 27, 2006

From high school hoopsters to Russian giants, the Kidzworld Coach checks out the top picks from the 2004 NBA Draft.

2004 NBA Draft - The Top Three

1. Dwight Howard - For the second straight year, the top pick in the NBA draft was a player right out of high school. Dwight Howard, who just graduated from Atlanta Christian Academy in June 2004 was picked by the Orlando Magic. Howard is nowhere near the class of Lebron James, but with Tracy McGrady on his way out of the Magic Kingdom, Howard can expect to get lots of playing time.

2. Emeka Okafor - Okafor will be one of the few players on the NBA's newest team - the Charlotte Bobcats - to have any teeth. The 6'10" center, from the UConn Huskies is an outstanding shot blocker and rebounder who will give the Bobcats some much need meow in their first season. You won't have to wait until the start of the next NBA season to see how good Emeka Okafor is. He'll be playing on the USA Men's Olympic basketball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

3. Ben Gordon - Gordon was Okafor's teammate at the University of Connecticut and helped lead the Huskies to an NCAA Title in 2004. He's a great passer, scorer and ball-handler, but he's not the next MJ and certainly won't be able to turn the Bulls into playoff contenders next season.

2004 NBA Draft - High School Hoopsters

Who needs college when you can make some massive bling bling shooting hoops with Kobe, A.I. and T-Mac? There were a record eight high school basketball players picked in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft, including Dwight Howard. Other noteable high school hoopsters include 7'0" Robert Swift who was picked 12th overall by the Seattle Supersonics and Sebastian Telfair, a cousin of NBA star Stephon Marbury, was picked 13th overall by the Portland Trailblazers.

2004 NBA Draft - Russian Giant

The tallest player picked in the 2004 NBA Draft was Pavel Podkolzine, a 7'5" giant from Russia. Podkolzine was selected 21st overall by the Utah Jazz and wears a size 21 shoe!

Do you have a question on the NBA, P.E. class, fitness or health? to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.

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