"In the hours leading up to the 2011 NBA draft, Maryland's Jordan Williams joked on his Twitter account that he had waited 20 years for this moment, so having to wait a few extra hours to hear his name called wouldn't matter in the end.

That logic proved prophetic, as the 6-foot-10 forward watched team after team bypass him in the first round Thursday night. But more than three hours after the draft began, the New Jersey Nets ended his anxiety-filled night, selecting Williams with the 36th overall pick in the second round.

And true to form since making the controversial decision to hire an agent last month and forgo his final two years of eligibility in College Park, Williams expressed no regrets now that his NBA dreams have been realized.

"It wasn't the first round, but it's a huge sigh of relief," Williams said late Thursday night from his home in Torrington, Conn. "It was tough watching, but coming out as a sophomore and being one of the youngest guys in the draft class, it's definitely an honor. I'm just glad I landed where I did.""