June 28, 2005

NEW YORK (Ticker) - The New Orleans Hornets used the fourth pick in the NBA draft on Wake Forest's Chris Paul, whom they hope will give them star quality at point guard.

The Hornets went 18-64 last season, trading All-Star point guard Baron Davis to Golden State and using journeyman Dan Dickau to close the season. He is considered a backup, as is Speedy Claxton.

The 6-foot Paul is the quickest point guard in this draft and has every element except perhaps size. He has been likened to San Antonio's Tony Parker.

A consensus All-American in 2005 as a sophomore and the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman, Paul left Wake Forest with 948 career points, 395 assists and 160 steals.

His career 3-point percentage of 47 percent is the second-highest in Deacons history and his 212 assists this past season were the third most in school history and the most since Muggsy Bogues in 1987.