Marion says he's ecstatic to go to Phoenix at No. 9

Top 10

Here are the first 10 selections from the 1999 NBA Draft, with NBA team, player, projected position in the pros, and college or high school:

1. Chicago, Elton Brand, F, Duke

2. Vancouver, Steve Francis, G, Maryland

3. Charlotte, Baron Davis, G, UCLA

4. L.A. Clippers, Lamar Odom, F, Rhode Island

5. Toronto, Jonathan Bender, F, Picayune (Miss.), HS

6. Minnesota, Wally Szczerbiak, F, Miami (Ohio)

7. Washington, Richard Hamilton, G-F, Connecticut

8. Cleveland, Andre Miller, G, Utah

9. Phoenix, Shawn Marion, F, UNLV

10. Atlanta, Jason Terry, G, Arizona

It appears Shawn Marion knew what he was doing after all.

The former UNLV star small forward left school early, believing he could be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft. Wednesday, his faith was rewarded, as the Phoenix Suns used the ninth pick overall to take the talented 6-foot-7 junior from North Chicago, Ill.

Marion believed he was good enough to go in the top 10, but he said there was still a feeling of uncertainty as he waited for NBA commissioner David Stern to call his name at the MCI Center in Washington D.C.

"I was nervous the whole way," Marion said after being tabbed by Phoenix, a black cap with the Suns' orange and blue logo atop his head. "We've been praying that it would all work out for the best. And it worked out great.

"I like Phoenix. I know a lot of their players. I'm excited to be going there. It's close to Vegas where my mom (Elaine) will be. It's not too far a drive, so my family will get to see me play a lot."

Marion, the eighth UNLV player since 1987 to be picked in the first round and the first Rebel to go in the top 10 since Minnesota selected J.R. Rider at No. 5 overall in 1993, made a great impression on Suns brass when he worked out and interviewed with the team two weeks ago.

Dick Percudani, the team's director of college scouting, said he was impressed by Marion's athleticism, his ability to play hard at both ends of the floor and the way he could finish on the fast break.

The Suns are looking for someone who can play off guard Jason Kidd, one of the league's best open-court players. Marion should make for a nice complement to Kidd's skills.

"You have to like the way he competes and finishes," Percudani said of Marion.

Suns coach Danny Ainge will be glad to have Marion playing alongside Kidd.

"He's not a great long-range shooter, but he can handle the ball, he can beat people off the dribble and when he's running the lane with Jason, he's great at catching the ball at the 3-point line, taking one or two dribbles either direction and knocking down those type of shots."

When asked about having Marion and Kidd on the floor together, Ainge said, "It doesn't get more athletic than that."

Marion said when he visited the Suns a couple of weeks ago, he had a feeling he might be starting his career in Phoenix.

"They seemed to take a liking to me and I liked them," he said. "They were real cool people. Everything just seemed right about Phoenix, so I thought there was a good chance I could wind up there.

"Playing with Jason is going to help me exploit my game even more. He's going to want to pick up the pace and I think I can keep up with him."

UNLV coach Bill Bayno said Marion and the Suns are a perfect fit.

"He's going to a great situation," Bayno said. "He's one of the few guys who can outrun Jason."

Marion becomes the third Rebel of the Bayno era to play in the NBA, joining Tyrone Nesby with the Los Angeles Clippers and Keon Clark with the Denver Nuggets.

"It's important because it shows players that they can go to the NBA from UNLV," Bayno said. "I think it should provide incentive for our new players. Shawn improved in his year here because he put in the time and the work. He's a good example for our guys to follow."

Phoenix basketball fans may remember Marion from last December when he scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked two shots in UNLV's 79-70 loss to Arizona State. They'll get to enjoy more of the same in the NBA. Marion averaged 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Rebels last season and led the team with 54 blocked shots and 73 steals.

The Suns are hoping he'll be able to put up comparable numbers. Marion said he'll do his best.

"I'm going to work hard and try to take my game to the next level," he said. "But I was still nervous (Wednesday). Everyone was nervous. If you're not nervous, you're not human."

Marion said the entire experience of being part of the draft was positive.

"It was real fun," he said of his time in Washington. "I'm glad I was invited."

While Marion's spot in the league is secure, teammate Kevin Simmons will have to travel the free agent route if he hopes to play in the NBA. The 6-8 forward was not among the 58 players selected at Wednesday's draft.

Bayno said it was going to be tough for Simmons to get drafted. He did not play particularly well at the pre-draft camp at Portsmouth, Va., and averaged six points a game in 11 games for Connecticut of the United States Basketball League this spring.

"Hopefully, Kevin can get a chance overseas," Bayno said. "I'm trying to get him a spot in Spain. But I knew it would be a long shot for him to get drafted."

But Marion played his cards right. Bayno wished he could have been in Washington to share the lengthy hug Marion enjoyed with his mom, Elaine, in the Green Room at the MCI Center immediately after the Suns drafted him.

Marion will be in Phoenix today to meet the media. UNLV fans will get a chance to see him as a pro Oct. 26 when the Suns meet the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA preseason game at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"He made the right decision," Bayno said. "It worked out great. His agent (Dan Fegan) did a good job. You've got to give him credit since Shawn went in the top 10. And I've said all along that if Shawn was a top-10 pick, he had to go (pro).

"But Shawn deserves the most credit. He made a positive impression in the workouts and took advantage of the opportunity. I'm just thrilled to death for him."

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