"Two years ago, Kyrie Irving attended the NBA draft in Madison Square Garden with his stepmother, Shetellia Riley Irving.

At one point in the evening, after watching player after player walk across the stage and shake NBA commissioner David Stern's hand, Irving turned to his stepmother and said, "I'm going to be there one day."

Five weeks ago, Irving attended the NBA lottery in Secaucus, N.J., where the Cavaliers earned the No. 1 pick in the draft. Asked if he felt as he was almost in the NBA, "No, I don't feel like I'm there yet -- not until I shake David Stern's hand and put on a hat."

About 7:40 p.m. on Thursday he did just that, moments after Stern announced that he had been selected by the Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

"I'm looking forward to getting to Cleveland," said Irving, 19, who grew up about 10 minutes from the Prudential Center. "It feels good to finally put a hat on."

A short time later, the Cavaliers added another New Jersey high school product when they took Texas forward Tristan Thompson with the No. 4 pick. Thompson, 20, attended St. Benedict's Prep in Newark with Samardo Samuels.

The Cavaliers had interest in Turkish center Enes Kanter, but he was taken third by the Utah Jazz.

Thompson was considered a surprise choice. Reports had linked the team with Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas, but apparently his contractual obligations to his Euroleague club.

Thompson, a Toronto native, played one year with the Longhorns, averaging 13.1 points and 7.6 rebounds. His addition could pose a change in address for power forward J.J. Hickson, whose inconsistency was frequently cited by coach Byron Scott last season.

Irving was born in Australia and Thompson is a native of Canada. Irving started at Monclair Kimberly Academy before transferring for his final to years to prep powerhouse St. Pat's in Elizabeth. Thompson, born in Toronto, played his freshman year at St. Marguerite d'Youville in Brampton, Ontario, then spent the next year and a half at St. Benedict's before finishing at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev.

"Tristan is a great friend of mine," Irving said. "Having somebody alongside you that will go through the rookie ups and downs with you, it will make the transition into the NBA that much easier.""