"Darius Morris was a guest, but not a guest of honor.

For 2 1/2 hours, Morris waited as names were called, dreams were realized, and the Prudential Center's VIP player section gradually emptied in front of him. Seated three rows above the black-and-silver partition that separated invited prospects from the crowd, the former Michigan point guard added more doubters to a list that was already big before tonight's 2011 NBA Draft.

Finally, as the clock neared 11 p.m. and the crowd thinned out, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Morris with the 41st overall pick. The long wait ended, and he was going home.

"I heard my name finally called and it was a relief, but at the same time it definitely put a chip on my shoulder getting picked 41," Morris said. "That's the story of my life -- never been a favorite but always been one of the best, so I'm excited about the future."

Morris left the Wolverines after a breakout sophomore season, pushing aside doubters and believing that he would be a first-round pick and grab the guaranteed contract that comes with it. "