NEW YORK - The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns with the first pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.
The Timberwolves went for the freshman center in their first time owning the No. 1 pick. They can add him to a young roster featuring Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, who was picked first last year by Cleveland and later dealt to Minnesota in the Kevin Love trade.
The Los Angeles Lakers then took guard D'Angelo Russell of Ohio State, who was wearing a red jacket, bowtie and shoes that matched the Buckeyes' school colors.
The 6-foot-11 Towns averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game, as Kentucky used a platoon system in winning its first 38 games and reaching the Final Four.
It was Kentucky's third No. 1 pick in the last six years, joining Anthony Davis in 2012 and John Wall in 2010. The Wildcats were hoping to have a record seven players picked.
It was the sixth straight year a freshman was the No. 1 pick. Russell also played just one year in college.