CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – Deron Williams became Illinois’ highest-ever NBA draft pick Tuesday when he was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz, who had traded with Portland earlier in the day to ensure they could get him.

The Jazz desperately need a point guard and in Williams they get a 6-3 point guard known for his playmaking skills and defensive tenacity. He averaged nearly seven assists per game last season and held two of the nation’s premier scorers – Arizona’s Salim Stoudemire and Louisville’s Francisco Garcia – well under their season averages in the NCAA tournament as the Illini went to the title game.

Williams had to wait through a suspenseful moment before NBA Commissioner David Stern announced his name.

“With the third pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz select,” Stern began. He then waited four seconds before continuing: “Deron Williams of the University of Illinois.”

Fans at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center learned of the pick minutes before Stern’s announcement when Jazz president Dennis Haslam thanked fans who showed up and then said simply “Deron Williams” to a loud ovation. Williams got another loud ovation when Stern made the announcement official.

Williams’ selection at No. 3 makes him the highest-drafted player in Illinois’ history, eclipsing Kendall Gill, who was the No. 5 pick in 1990. Williams’ teammate, Luther Head, also was a possible first-round selection Tuesday night, which would give Illinois two first-round draftees for the first time since Nick Anderson and Kenny Battle in 1989.

Williams, who turned 21 on June 26, sent his NBA stock soaring when he led the Illini’s improbable comeback from 15-points down with less than five minutes remaining in the Chicago Regional final against Arizona on March 26.

He scored 14 of his 22 points in the last four minutes of regulation and overtime, including the 3-pointer that sent the game into the extra period.

Williams, an AP third-team all-American from The Colony, Texas, left Illinois after his junior season. In three seasons as a starter, he scored 1,111 points and reached No. 2 on the school’s all-time assist list with 594, trailing only Bruce Douglas’ record of 765, which was set in four seasons.

He averaged 12.5 points and was selected to the All-Big Ten first team for the second consecutive season.