DEERFIELD, Ill. – Derrick Rose grew up a few miles from the United Center. Now he’ll call the arena home.

The Chicago Bulls took Rose with the No. 1 draft pick on Thursday, opting for the point guard who led Memphis to the NCAA championship game over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.

That the Bulls went with Rose wasn’t a big surprise.

General manager John Paxson had hinted that they were leaning toward the dynamic floor leader who averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists while helping Memphis win a record 38 games in his lone season.

Not that choosing him over Beasley was easy. Both players probably could have jumped to the NBA from high school if league rules still allowed.

Instead, Beasley delivered one of the best seasons ever by a freshman, becoming just the third to lead the nation in rebounds at 12.4 per game while averaging 26.2 points. He had the second-most rebounds and third-most points by a freshman in NCAA history, helping Kansas State to its first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years.

Yet they saw Rose as a better fit.

The Bulls lacked leadership on the court last season, and they are trying to pick up the tempo under new coach Vinny Del Negro without sacrificing much on defense – areas where Rose could help. They were also thinking long-term with the pick.

“Of course, I’ve got to lead the team,” Rose told ESPN. “Stay focused and hopefully just get a couple more wins.”

A product of city’s South Side, he had Memphis in position to win the national championship before things ended on a sour note. Rose scored 14 of his team’s 16 points during one stretch as the Tigers built a nine-point lead late in the title game against Kansas, but he missed one of two free throws with 10.8 seconds left, and the Jayhawks eventually stormed back.

Rose, 19, grew up in the rough Englewood neighborhood and starred at Simeon Career Academy. He’s old enough to remember the end of the championship dynasty but also saw Chicago hit the bottom of the NBA.

The Bulls thought they were on the right track after three straight playoff appearances but derailed as individual agendas took hold last season.

Luol Deng and Ben Gordon turned down five-year contract extensions and Kobe Bryant trade rumors surfaced as the season started. Players bickered with each other and their coaches. Scott Skiles got fired in December, interim coach Jim Boylan was let go at the end of the season, and the Bulls’ coaching search dragged on about two months before they finally hired Del Negro.

The team’s luck – and Rose’s career path – took a dramatic turn on May 20.

Rose signed with agents Arn Tellem and B.J. Armstrong, the former Bulls player, and told them he hoped to play for Chicago. That drew laughter, but a few hours later, there were gasps. The Bulls won the draft lottery despite 1.7 percent odds, and a long shot turned into a strong possibility.

Chicago still has issues to address, starting with Deng and Gordon.

They’re restricted free agents, and even if Gordon leaves, the Bulls still have a crowd in the backcourt. Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes have large contracts, and Thabo Sefolosha made a case for more playing time last season.