Cavaliers sign first-round pick Diop
( 2001-07-06 10:19 ) (7 )

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Senegalese center DeSagana Diop on Thursday, becoming the first team to sign its first-round draft pick.

A 7-foot (2.13 metres), 315-pound (117 kg) 18-year-old with just two years of US high school behind him, Diop was the eighth pick in the draft and the fourth high school player taken.

Diop took up basketball at the age of 15 in his West African homeland.

On draft night last week, DeSagana acknowledged he had a lot of hard work ahead of him if he was to succeed in the NBA. "I'm willing to learn to get better, but I have confidence in myself," he said.

"We are delighted that DeSagana will be working with our coaching staff on our summer league team during the Rocky Mountain Revue and that he will get a head start on his transition to the professional game," Cavs general manager Jim Paxson said.

Diop played two seasons at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, the second campaign ending prematurely because of a stress fracture in his foot.

Last season he averaged 14.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and 8.1 blocks per game, shooting better than 60 percent from the floor while helping Oak Hill to a 33-0 record and the No. 1 national ranking by USA Today.

As a junior, he averaged 10.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.7 blocks as OaHill went 30-2 and was ranked No.2.