"They're a young team, they definitely get up and down," he said. "It definitely fits my description, an up-and-down point guard who loves to run, loves to pass."
He follows in the footsteps of UCLA alums Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook, both of whom were picked in the first round last year. The previous seasons it was Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo.
USC is on a three-season streak, with DeRozan following O.J. Mayo and Nick Young.
Though Collison and Gibson had to wait until the later stages of the first round, they might have enjoyed the best night in terms of exceeding expectations.
Collison, in particular, knew that New Orleans was interested but did not think the Hornets would pick him so high. He enters seemingly perfect circumstances, backing up Chris Paul. There won't be as much pressure to produce while he learns from Coach Byron Scott and one of the best point guards in the game.
"It's a great situation," Collison said. "The draft board went exactly how I wanted it to go."
The outlook seems equally rosy for DeRozan, who might have gotten a hint about Toronto's intentions earlier in the day, when he saw Raptors forward Chris Bosh in the hotel lobby.
"I think he knew something but he didn't want to give it away," DeRozan said.
Now comes a relocation to a city that appears to suit him just fine.
"You know," he said, "I think I can fit in great."
Times staff writer Lisa Dillman contributed to this story
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david.wharton@latimes.com
