Lakers Hook Big One

The Lakers, in the unfamiliar, almost awkward, position of owning the No. 10 overall pick, drafted high school prodigy Andrew Bynum, a 17-year-old center with a surprisingly smooth sky hook, freshly minted driver’s license and a punch line or two about a Laker predecessor’s free-throw woes.

Some Shaquille O’Neal comparisons have already begun for a kid who seems too good to be true -- an honors student planning a post-NBA job as a civil engineer who made Laker officials a pleasantly surprised bunch in Tuesday’s draft.

Bynum is the youngest player ever drafted at 17 years 8 months and 2 days. He weighs 285 pounds and was measured at 6 feet 11 at the Chicago pre-draft camp this month, a prospect, perhaps project, whose ultimate value will be determined years, not months, into his career.

The Lakers, who had not drafted this high since taking Eddie Jones 10th in 1994, added another post presence with their 37th pick, Gonzaga forward Ronny Turiaf, and took Florida State shooting guard Von Wafer with the 39th pick.

But it was Bynum who demonstrated equal parts reverence and ribbing after being drafted.

“When I get there, all I want to do is put in some hard work and live up to those great centers who came before me,� said Bynum, from Metuchen, N.J. “I actually want to bring back the sky hook, which Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] left behind there. Nobody uses that shot. It happens to be one of my favorite shots. I’m compared to Shaq now just because of the body type, but I can hit my free throws.�

Just last week, General Manager Mitch Kupchak said it was unlikely the Lakers would take a high school player, but there Bynum was, still available at No. 10, and there the Lakers were, delighted he had fallen that far, and Bynum will arrive in Los Angeles as early as today.

The Lakers can thank the Toronto Raptors, who uncorked the draft’s first surprise by taking Connecticut forward Charlie Villanueva and leaving the New York Knicks with the option of Bynum or Arizona center Channing Frye.

The Lakers feared the first, but they were relieved when the Knicks took the latter and the Golden State Warriors went for Arizona State forward Ike Diogu.

“Up until this morning, we weren’t quite sure, No. 1, that he’d be there, and No. 2, that we would take him,� Kupchak said.

“But we’re very, very happy that we can plug him into that [center] spot and hopefully make a contribution. We don’t know when, whether it’s a year or two, we just don’t know, but we think he has a chance to be an excellent center in this league.�

The Lakers were hesitant on committing to Bynum until they received additional medical information. He had unspecified knee surgery when he was 11 years old and also suffered elbow and knee injuries during his senior season at St. Joseph High.

He injured his right knee in December and was initially diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but a second opinion revealed a bruised kneecap and minor ligament tear that healed with rest. Bynum sat out 10 games instead of an entire season.

“Everything checks out,� Kupchak said of Bynum’s medical history.

Bynum averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots for St. Joseph and would have been the centerpiece of Connecticut’s recruiting class.

Earlier this month, most scouts and general managers had him slotted as a late first-round selection, but he steadily moved up after a successful workout in front of about 20 teams.

He showed strong moves down low, including his hook shot. He also showed a flat outside shot reminiscent of a more recent Laker center, making only 22 of 59 shots (37.2%) from 12 to 16 feet, according to workout reports.

“Certainly at 17 years old going on 18 years old, he has a long way to go,� Kupchak said.

“We don’t know what he’s going to be like in two or three years, but if he works and he’s competitive, he has a chance to be a very, very good center and there just aren’t that many centers.�

Phil Jackson, never one to devote much time to rookies, was at his lakefront Montana home for the draft. He apparently was sold on Bynum’s workout at the Lakers’ El Segundo facility.

“I think he’s as impressed as we were,� Kupchak said.

Bynum appeared at ease in a conference call with reporters, talking freely about his future and jabbing one of the local teams back home.

“I think I’ll be a rebounder and a shot-blocker primarily at first until I get better strength and conditioning and hold my moves against other 7-footers,� he said. “After that, down the line people are telling me I should definitely be an All-Star and they see a bright future ahead of me.�

As for the Knicks’ possible oversight?

“They’re going to miss me in a couple of years,� Bynum said. “The Lakers made a great decision.�

Turiaf, 6-10 and 249 pounds, was the West Coast Conference player of the year as a senior, averaging 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds for Gonzaga.

“People on the West Coast are probably pretty familiar with him,� Kupchak said. “He’s long and athletic and very active.�

Wafer is a 6-5, 210-pound shooter who led Florida State in scoring last season with 12.5 points per game.

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THE LAKER PICKS

Mikan. Chamberlain. Abdul-Jabbar. O’Neal. Bynum? The NBA’s foremost franchise for centers hopes to have found another one in Andrew Bynum, a 6-foot-11, 285-pounder who is the youngest player (17 years 8 months 2 days) ever drafted. They also take Ronny Turiaf and Von Wafer.

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Laker picks

ANDREW BYNUM

Center Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph HS

6-11, 285; 22 ppg, 16 rpg, 5 bpg

No. 10 pick: Early entry ... Was committed to Connecticut ... Has well-developed post moves, including a hook shot ... Could evolve into classic back-to-the basket presence in the block ... Needs to work on his outside shot and strength.

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RONNY TURIAF

Forward Gonzaga

6-10, 249; 15.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.9 apg

No. 37 pick: West Coast Conference player of the year as a senior

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VON WAFER

Guard Florida State

6-5, 210; 12.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.7 apg

No. 39 pick: Early entry ... Good shooter ... Needs to work on defense ... Made 65 of 164 three-pointers (39.6%) last season ... Attended four high schools and spent two seasons at Florida State.