Richmond, Calif. ? He was once a wispy, 170-pound ninth grader prone to mischief. Then he was a slender, 205-pound senior at El Cerrito High School, graceful and agile but not the least bit imposing.

Now, as Drew Gooden launches jumper after smooth jumper during twice-daily workouts in the East Bay, he belongs in another realm. He shoots those jumpers as a first-team All-American, the latest big name in Kansas’ rich basketball tradition, a solid 6-foot-10, 235-pound man.

Gooden also qualifies as a likely top-five choice in Wednesday’s NBA Draft.

He should become the highest draft pick with Bay Area roots since Dallas took Jason Kidd with the No. 2 overall choice in 1994.

The journey from soft-as-butter kid to big-time pro prospect seems dizzying, even to Gooden. Every time he sees a photo of himself at age 14 or 15, baby- faced and thin as a rail, he wonders if it’s really the same person.

“It looks like trick photography,” Gooden said.

He remains three months from his 21st birthday (Sept. 24), but he’s only a couple days from becoming fabulously wealthy.

If Gooden is among the top players drafted Wednesday, he will receive a guaranteed three-year contract worth between $8 million and $10 million.

And he fully expects to become one of the top players drafted. Gooden left Kansas after his junior season, after averaging 19.8 points and 11.4 rebounds in leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four, where they lost to eventual national champion Maryland.

Gooden and Calvin Andrews, his longtime mentor and now agent, then made the obligatory calls to NBA general managers. The consensus: Gooden would be a top-five pick in the draft. Armed with these assurances, he decided to skip his senior season at Kansas.

Nothing to happen since that decision not the lottery-determined draft order, not his workouts for each of the top five teams has changed Gooden’s visions.

“I would be shocked if I go lower than five,” he said.

Even as predraft speculation swirls, it requires no special insight to narrow the possibilities. Houston will almost certainly select China’s Yao Ming. Then the Chicago Bulls will tap Duke point guard Jay Williams.

Gooden once pictured himself staying home to become the latest savior of the Warriors. He’s even living in a house in the area where he’s been working out with former Missouri rival Kareem Rush and others.

However, now, given that Golden State seems likely to take Duke’s Mike Dunleavy in the No. 3 spot, Gooden could land in Memphis at No. 4. Andrews anticipates Gooden slipping no lower than fourth.

Memphis is hardly hoops heaven the Grizzlies are 124-418 in seven seasons in the NBA. Granted, they have two promising players in Pau Gasol and Shane Battier (both forwards, incidentally). And Jerry West recently strolled into town to spin his front-office magic.

Still, it’s safe to say Gooden did not enter the draft specifically to play in the shadow of Graceland.

“Drew is warming up to the idea of playing in Memphis,” Andrews said. “I’ve got the strangest feeling $3 million will help.”

And if, by some unexpected twist, that team plays right down the freeway? Andrews said Gooden would fit nicely with the Warriors, because they lack a consistent low-post scorer.

Andrews also acknowledged concerns about Gooden playing at home namely, friends emerging to clamor for tickets and time. Gooden said he would probably have a will-call list of “about 100” if he played for the Warriors.

Then there is the perspective of Andrew Gooden Sr., who played pro basketball himself in Finland. Gooden Sr., never shy about offering his opinion, would prefer his son begin his NBA career away from home … and far away from the Warriors.

“They’re kind of talking about Drew like an afterthought,” Gooden Sr. said. “Everyone around town is joking that they don’t want Drew to go to the Warriors, because that franchise destroys guys’ careers.

“From management on down, they’re in chaos, in turmoil. They don’t know what to do.”

The Warriors praised the younger Gooden during last week’s predraft news conference.

Assistant general manager Gary Fitzsimmons addressed one of the few questions about Gooden’s game whether he has a true position in the pros.

“Drew will tell you he’s a 4, flat out,” Fitzsimmons said of the power forward slot.

“I happen to agree with him. He’s very talented. He’s going to be a very good player at this level.”