Point guard Derrick Rose of the University of Memphis was taken by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick of the 2008 NBA Draft.

The Miami Heat followed with all-around forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State.

Rose averaged 14.9 points per game and 4.7 assists in leading Memphis as a freshman to the finals of the NCAA Tournament and the 6 ft 3 ins (1.91-metre) Chicago native was thrilled to be joining his hometown NBA team.

"It feels great to be back at home," Rose said.

The Heat, who auditioned some guards in the days leading up to the draft, ended the suspense by taking consensus All-American Beasley, who averaged 26.2 points and led major US colleges by averaging 12.4 rebounds a game.

"Anything can happen in a draft," Beasley said. "I think they are getting a great player, a hard worker and rebounder and a fun-loving guy off the court. I think every team needs that."

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected University of Southern California guard O.J. Mayo with the next pick, the third successive freshman taken in the draft.

Overall, a record 10 freshmen were selected in the first round. Many top youngsters had entered the draft after satisfying the NBA requirement of waiting at least one year after their high school graduating class.

Guard Russell Westbrook of UCLA went to the Seattle SuperSonics with the fourth pick, followed by college team mate Kevin Love, six foot ten center, taken by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Italian Danilo Gallinari became the first international player selected when he was chosen by the New York Knicks with the sixth pick.

Knicks fans packed into the arena booed the selection of the 6 ft 8 ins Italian forward, disappointed that the Knicks failed to address their need at point guard.

"It's part of the game," Gallinari said about the boos.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh was happy to get Gallinari, whose father, Vittorio, was a former team mate of Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni in the Italian professional league.

"I think he's an unusual player, with his size, a great shooter, ball handler," Walsh said. "With his size, I think he can play different positions and I think he can be the kind of player who can bring a team together."

The New Jersey Nets, who earlier announced the acquisition of Chinese forward Yi Jianlian in a deal that sent forward Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee, chose Stanford center Brook Lopez with the 10th pick.

Lopez's twin brother Robin was taken with the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns, making the pair the first brothers to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft.

Other international players taken in the first round were French center Alexis Ajinca (20th by Charlotte), Congolese forward Serge Ibaka (24th by Seattle), and guard Nicolas Batum of France (25th by Houston).

Reuters