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It took a little longer, but the hard way worked for Delon Wright.
From high school, prep school, junior college and breaking out with the Runnin' Utes, the 23-year-old L.A. native heads to Canada to begin his NBA career.
The Toronto Raptors made the point guard the No. 20 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft on Thursday night. Wright, who led Utah in scoring and assists the past two seasons, will join a team that won 49 games last year, yet was swept out of the playoffs.
The 6-foot-5 guard is the first draft pick the Utes have produced since 2005 top overall pick Andrew Bogut — fitting for a player who was the driving force of Utah's first Sweet 16 season in a decade. He celebrated with friends, family and Utah coaches in his hometown.
"He's a lesson in perseverance," Utes coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "He had a tough road, going through JUCO and other circumstances. You really want to see something special for the kid."
Wright left some special moments in his wake.
Wright made his name at Utah, where he was the program's first All American since Bogut while earning the Bob Cousy award for the nation's best point guard. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game during Utah's 26-9 campaign. He also was Utah's second-leading rebounder, third-best shooter and earned more free throws than any other Ute with an 83.6 percent shooting percentage at the line.
His highlights were crowd-pleasers, and he also won 47 games in his career with the Utes. As one of two seniors on the team, Wright helped lead the Utes to NCAA Tournament wins over Stephen F. Austin and Georgetown before they fell to eventual national champions Duke in the Sweet 16.
Wright nearly went pro after his debut year, when he earned all-conference honors for Utah, but Krystkowiak — and Wright's family — convinced him to come back to finish his degree and end Utah's six-year NCAA tournament drought. Over his two years in crimson, he totaled 1022 points, 397 rebounds, 352 assists, 155 steals and 77 blocks.
Krystkowiak said he wasn't familiar enough with Toronto's system to know how Wright will fit schematically, but he believes Raptors head coach Dwayne Casey's style "is a good fit" for Wright's temperament.
Casey's post-pick comments to Toronto media indicated he's excited to bring Wright into the fold. He said everyone who had watched Wright play was "unanimous" that he should be the 20th pick.
"He defends, he can run the pick and roll very well, great kid, good character, good team guy and a really excellent ball mover," he said. "We're excited to get him."
Casey said Wright's defense is a good match for what the Raptors hope to add this offseason. He acknowledged he believes Wright needs to improve his shooting, but said he thinks it will improve with repetition.
The Utes recruited Wright out of the City College of San Francisco; he is now the first NBA Draft pick the school has produced.
The NBA won't be foreign territory for Wright: His brother Dorell is an 11-year vet who has played for the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Dorell was initially one of the most skeptical parties when his brother committed to the Utes. He approached Krystkowiak on Thursday night to say he should've been more trusting of the Utah coaching staff, but even Krystkowiak acknowledged that Delon has helped elevate the program he leaves.
"It's obvious the level he's taken us to," he said. "We're talking with some great basketball players in our recruiting process now that we think can not only take us to some great levels as a program, but can also be in the draft as well. Delon has set the stage for that."
Wright is the 10th Ute to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. No Ute has before played for the Raptors.
Canada has been a fertile recruiting ground for Utah's basketball programs in the past: Dallin Bachynski is a native Canadian, and so are some of the brightest Utes women's basketball stars including Kim Smith, Michelle Plouffe and Tara Wicijowksi.
Twitter: @kylegoon