Former MU star Rush drafted 20th

It took a little longer than he might have wanted or expected, but former Missouri star Kareem Rush still ended his night as a professional and a first-round NBA draft pick.

Rush, an honorable mention All-American player in each of the past two college seasons, was drafted 20th by the Toronto Raptors. Some pre-draft projections slated the junior as a higher pick.

Rush averaged 19.8 points per game as a junior, leading the Tigers to the Western Regional finals in the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Oklahoma. As a sophomore in 2000-01, he led the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game.

"I'm shocked he was selected down far," said Ben Roeger, 21, a senior accounting major at Missouri from Cape Girardeau. He and friends watched the draft at a Columbia sports bar. "Maybe he should have stayed at Mizzou and been on a Final Four team next year -- that would have made him a top five pick."

-- AP