Seattle takes high schooler in first round

SEATTLE (AP) — Eighteen-year-old Robert Swift is way too young to remember when Jack Sikma was one of the NBA's elite centers.

He'll get the chance to learn firsthand from Sikma, though, after the Seattle SuperSonics made the 7-foot California high school standout the 12th pick of the NBA draft on Thursday night.

”I'm relieved, first and foremost,” Swift said by telephone. ”It's kind of a dream come true. I'm excited. I get to play close to home and hopefully my family can come out and watch me.”

Seattle selected Swift based on his potential, one of eight high school players chosen in this year's first round. He's considered a good shot blocker and passer, and scouts say his hands and footwork are excellent for a player his age.

”You like his length. You like that he's got great footwork and great hands,” Seattle general manager Rick Sund said. ”He does an outstanding job of keeping the ball up high. He is a legitimate back-to-the-basket player.”

In the second round, Seattle chose guard Andre Emmett of Texas Tech with the 35th pick and later traded his rights to Memphis for a future second-round pick and cash. Seattle chose guard David Young of North Carolina Central at No. 41.

Swift didn't do any personal workouts for NBA teams, saying they interfered with the final months of school. Seattle relied on scouts who saw Swift play, as well as a recommendation from former Sonics star Lonnie Shelton.

”His kid plays on the same team with this kid,” Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. ”He has seen him play several times. He spoke highly of this kid and thought that if we did select him, it would be a good choice.”

Seattle has missed the playoffs three of the last four years, but anyone who thinks Swift can help right away probably will be disappointed.

Seattle has three centers under contract next season: Calvin Booth, Jerome James and Vitaly Potapenko. That position has been a black hole for the Sonics in recent years, but Swift looks more like a long-term solution.

”If he's productive, if he earns the right to be on the floor, I will put him out there,” McMillan said. ”But he will have some guys in Calvin, Vitaly and Jerome fighting for those minutes.”

James and Potapenko will be free agents after next season.

The immediate plan is to pair Swift in practice with Sikma, the former Sonics and Bucks center who now works as special assignments coach in Seattle. Swift needs to add weight to his 245-pound frame.

”He just plays the game the right way,” said Sikma, a seven-time All-Star from 1977-91. ”He puts himself in good position in the post areas. He reacts to the ball well, uses his hands well. He plays with the ball over his head.”

Swift averaged 18.8 points, 15.9 rebounds and 6.2 blocks last season as a senior at Bakersfield High School. He initially committed to play college ball at Southern Cal but then made himself eligible for the NBA draft.

It's believed Boston coveted Swift and hoped he'd be available when the Celtics picked at No. 15. Sund said he got three calls asking about possible trades shortly after Seattle selected Swift, but the Sonics don't plan to deal him.

”I've always said we'll trade anyone if it makes sense,” Sund said. ”But when we drafted him, we drafted him with the intent of developing him for our team.”