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Illini's Leonard Goes To Portland; Draft Notes

>> Illini's Leonard Headed To Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers selected 7-foot-1 center Meyers Leonard out of Illinois with the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.

Leonard averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season before declaring early for the draft. He led the Big Ten with an average of 1.9 blocks per game.

The Blazers also selected point guard Damian Lillard out of Weber State with the sixth overall pick earlier in the night.

It was the first time the Blazers have had two lottery picks in the draft. Portland also has the 40th and 41st picks.

>> Bulls Take Kentucky's Teague

The Chicago Bulls selected Marquis Teague with the 29th pick in the draft on Thursday, giving them a point guard possibly to help fill in for the injured Derrick Rose.

Teague, whose older brother Jeff plays for Atlanta, was the fourth Wildcats player drafted, after Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went to New Orleans and Charlotte at No. 1 and No. 2 and Houston took Terrence Jones at No. 18.

Teague averaged 10.0 points and 4.8 assists while helping Kentucky win a national championship.

The Bulls have also had good luck with guards who played for John Calipari. Rose, who is recovering from major knee surgery and isn't expected back until early next year, played for him at Memphis.

>>Hornets Take Davis With Top Pick

(Newark, NJ)  --  The New Orleans Hornets selected Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the top-overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft Thursday night.  In his only season at Kentucky, he averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and had a school-record 186 blocks while leading the Wildcats to the national title.  With the second pick, the Charlotte Bobcats took Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  It marked the first time in Draft history that two players from the same school were taken with the top two selections.

At number-three, the Washington Wizards selected Florida guard Bradley Beal.  The Cleveland Cavaliers chose Syracuse guard Dion Waiters with the fourth pick.  The Sacramento Kings picked Kansas forward Thomas Robinson to round out the top five.  At number-10, the Hornets chose Duke guard Austin Rivers.  Austin is the son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers.  With the 21st and 22nd picks, the Celtics took Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger and Syracuse center Fab Melo.

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