Julian Wright, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner David Stern after being selected by New Orleans Hornets as the 13th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

New York ? Julian Wright made it clear he didn’t want to go down in NBA Draft history as one of those selections regarded as the “best player available.” Style of play was Wright’s priority. The former Kansas University forward wanted to be a good fit for the team that decided to call his name.

Wright got his wish Thursday night when the New Orleans Hornets made him the No. 13 pick overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The wait lasted more than one hour and 20 minutes, and Wright wasn’t among the top 10 picks as originally forecast. But the 6-foot-8 forward was smiling as he pulled on his Hornets cap and shook the hand of NBA Commissioner David Stern.

“I’m definitely excited,” Wright said. “I look forward to playing with (point guard) Chris Paul. He’s not only a good player, but he’s a good person. I don’t personally know him, but he has a really good vibe with everyone and makes everyone play better. I just really look forward to it.”

Wright had not worked out for the Hornets, who finished 39-43 and were fourth in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference last season. But Wright’s agent, Rob Pelinka, said he had conversations with Hornets general manager Jeff Bower early in the process, and New Orleans made it clear a workout wasn’t necessary.

Pelinka said the Hornets envision Wright moving into a point-forward role in coach Byron Scott’s “disciplined fast-break” style. Pelinka called Wright “a perfect fit” for the Hornets.

“Their style of play is centered around playmakers, and they felt Julian was one of the better overall playmakers in the draft,” Pelinka said. “They were really hoping there was a chance they could get him and put him with Chris Paul. Since early on they let me know how highly they thought of him. They definitely see him as a playmaker on the wing.”

With Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler in the New Orleans lineup, the Hornets appear set at point guard, power forward and center for the near future. Forward Peja Stojakovic is under contract for the next four years but will be trying to return from a season-ending back injury. His health and the pending free agency of forward Desmond Mason meant the Hornets needed a swingman. Wright certainly has the versatility to play several positions, and that made him attractive.

Julian Wright, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner David Stern after being selected by New Orleans Hornets as the 13th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Wright, now in line for a salary of $1,449,300 under the NBA structure for first-round picks, had participated in workouts with Minnesota (No. 7 pick), Boston (No. 5), Milwaukee (No. 6), Charlotte (No. 8), Sacramento (No. 10) and Philadelphia (No. 12). But, sitting with Pelinka, his mother, father and brother, Wright showed no signs of anxiety as those picks came and went. He applauded as other players were selected and appeared to be sending text messages on his phone between picks.

Wright said he felt “pretty composed” throughout the process.

“I appreciate the honesty of teams,” he said. “Going through this with my agent, we were talking about the workouts and just trying to alleviate a lot of the anxiety. We would ask how high I was on their list or they would give us options (regarding) certain guys on their list. And that makes it obvious.

“It’s a deep draft, and I respect that. At these workouts I tried to work as hard as I could and let things fall where it did. Like I said, I’m happy to be where I’m at.”

Pelinka said Wright would attend a press conference with the Hornets today. He expects Wright to participate in the NBA summer league and anticipates no problem coming to an agreement on a contract.

As Wright made his assigned rounds, doing interviews with the print media and nearly a dozen television networks, his mother said there was a feeling of relief when her son’s name was announced. Gina Wright said she didn’t become concerned over reports in recent days that Julian would possibly drop as low as the No. 16 pick.

“(The waiting) was OK; it wasn’t too bad,” Gina Wright said. “We had pretty much resigned ourselves to be happy with whatever happened, whatever the outcome was. I had butterflies leading up to that moment, but I’m fine now. There were rumors. But those are just people’s opinions.”

Gina Wright said she always told Julian he would know when it was the right time to enter the draft. Both of Wright’s parents said they supported his decision to leave after his sophomore season at KU. Paul Vinson, Wright’s father, said it is important for his son to continue his academic career. Wright was on a pace to graduate from Kansas in three years.

“I hope he graduates,” Vinson said. “I’ll be more happy about that than him pursuing the NBA. He has a great deal of determination. He wanted to finish (as quickly as possible) because he knew it would be a possibility he would be leaving early.”

Wright said leaving early from a school with great tradition is difficult. He said he thought it was difficult even for No. 1 pick Greg Oden of Ohio State.

“I’m fortunate to be in this situation, and I’m going to make the most of it,” he said. “I will definitely keep in contact with everybody that has helped me with this process. I’ve had their support, and I’m so grateful for that.

“Hopefully I can be a guy that maybe guys who go (to Kansas) in the future can look up to. Hopefully I can set a good example and be a hard worker, improve and flourish and just hold it down for the Kansas alums.”

Wright was asked Wednesday to give a self-scouting report and he started with his ability to dribble the ball and create offense.

“That’s always been my biggest strength, creating off the dribble,” Wright said. “I feel like my mid-range game is really solid. And mid-range in the NBA is 17, 19, 20-feet. I feel like I can get my shot off. I definitely have to improve the mechanics of my shooting and things like that.”

Wright, the fifth KU player to be selected in the first round since 2002, said it was a little strange being the only Jayhawk at the draft. He expected to be sharing the stage with KU classmate Brandon Rush. The 6-foot-6 Rush declared for the draft on April 26 but decided not to sign with an agent. That turned out to be a good move since Rush tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in late May, just before the NBA Draft camp in Orlando.

Rush had ACL surgery on June 1 and is in the early stages of rehab, with the hope of returning to the Jayhawks next season.

“That just hit me (about Rush) the other day,” Wright said. “That’s how life is. He didn’t really get a chance.

“I feel like he had a really good chance to do well in the workouts at the scene. To be unbiased, I felt he was the cream of the crop (of shooting guards). There are a lot of small forwards in this draft but not a lot of shooting guards. He definitely would have been appealing to a lot of organizations.

“I’ve talked to him a little bit. This definitely hurts. He didn’t even get a chance to see if his stock would rise or anything like that. I definitely feel for him in that sense. It’s all up to him as far as how fast he wants to get back to help Kansas and help himself. He’s going to be very appealing in the draft next year.”

Wright admitted he has to work on making better decisions on the court. Scouts loved his ability to pass the ball. But there were times at Kansas when he tried to make the spectacular play especially when he was passing. And that led to turnovers.

But Wright also has the reputation as a good teammate and making good decisions off the court.

“I feel like I have good personal skills, good people skills in the locker room,” he said. “That can really help. Just the ultimate team player, I guess.”

That description also fits Paul, one of the NBA’s top citizens and a player with high character. Less than half an hour after being drafted Wright said he could imagine working with Paul to help New Orleans in its continuing recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

“The NBA, it’s a job and you’re playing, but we definitely have a social responsibility to really help the community,” Wright said. “So, I’m really looking forward to that as well. I have never had the time to just travel to New Orleans see how it is now, but I heard it’s improving. Hopefully, I can be a role model in that respect.”