By Jim Owczarski Sports Editor Published Jun 27, 2013 at 8:23 PM Photography: Jim Owczarski

ST. FRANCIS – The 2013 NBA Draft was thrown for a loop at the opening bell when the Cleveland Cavaliers shocked everyone by drafted University of Las Vegas-Nevada power forward Anthony Bennett No. 1 overall. Heads kept spinning – and tongues twisting – through the Milwaukee Bucks first round pick at No. 15 overall with the surprise selection of 18-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That’s pronounced YAHN-iss, Ahn-the-toe-KUHN-poe, and the 6-foot, 9-inch one-year professional won’t be 19 until December 6.

And the surprise came from those outside of the Bucks organization.

Coach Larry Drew told general manager John Hammond Antetokounmpo wouldn't drop to 15. But, as things unfolded above them on the draft board, it became clearer and clearer the big wingman would indeed, slip to the Bucks.

"We got to about nine or 10 and we started seeing some names, and there was a name that kind of popped over there which we didn't expect, and it made our situation a lot better as far as who we had our eyes on," Drew said. "As we got closer, there was another name who we thought was a surprise in the top 13 (where) we really felt that we would probably get the guy we wanted. "

Still on the board were more polished, "NBA-ready" types, like German point guard Dennis Schroder, Miami point guard Shane Larkin and Michigan shooting guard Tim Hardaway, Jr.

Hammond acknowledged as much, saying Antetokounmpo was not the safest pick the Bucks could have made.

But ...

"There was no question there were safer picks - but nothing with this kind of upside," Hammond said. "Nothing close to this. That's the real key component of what we have here. You know, how are we going to get ... who's our next All-Star? I think he has that skill set to become that if it all falls together for him."

The youngster spent last season in Greece, playing for the second division team Filathlitikos. He averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds over 26 games. His parents are originally from Nigeria.

"It's a dream come true," Antetokounmpo said at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. "But this is not the end. It's only the beginning, you know, to a very long road that maybe someday will give me the opportunity to make my NBA team successful."

With the man they wanted secure in the first round, the Bucks selected Providence shooting guard Ricky Ledo with the No. 43 pick.

The team has reportedly moved Ledo to land South Dakota State point guard Nate Wolters, but that has not been confirmed by the team.

Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.

A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.

To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.

Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.

In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.

Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.