Minnesota picks Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky with first pick of NBA draft

The Minnesota Timberwolves have selected Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns with the first pick in the NBA draft.

The Timberwolves went for the freshman center Thursday night in their first time owning the No. 1 pick. They can add him to a young roster featuring Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, who was picked first last year by Cleveland and later dealt to Minnesota in the Kevin Love trade.

The 6-foot-11 Towns averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game, as Kentucky used a platoon system in winning its first 38 games and reaching the Final Four.

It was Kentucky's third No. 1 pick in the last six years, joining Anthony Davis in 2012 and John Wall in 2010. The Wildcats were hoping to have a record seven players picked.

The Los Angeles Lakers had the No. 2 pick. The Rockets pick 18th.