All grown up: Dwight Howard's maturity and confidence give him an edge over other preps-to-pros prospects��and could make him the No. 1 pick

Dwight Howard is an 18-year-old with braces tracked across his teeth. His favorite movie is Finding Nemo. But there's no need to worry how Howard, who could be drafted No. 1 overall and almost certainly will be gone by No. 2, will adjust to the rigors of a grown man's league.

This 6-10, 240-pound Atlanta native is more K.G. (Kevin Garnett) than K.B. (Kwame Brown). It was Garnett's seamless transition from high school to NBA stardom with the Timberwolves that spawned the preps-to-pros movement. But the struggles of Brown, who also bypassed college and was the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft by the Wizards, have been used as evidence by those who are arguing for an NBA age limit.

"I can contribute right away," says Howard.

Most believe his best NBA position is small forward, but Howard played every position except shooting guard in leading Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy to the Class A Georgia state championship last season. He's a capable ballhandler and distributor. He's ambidextrous, and he can score with his back to the basket or facing it. And Howard might not be done growing--doctors have told him he could reach 7-0.

"He's going to be an All-Star-caliber player," says one Eastern conference scout. "I'm not saying Year 1, but after he learns the league, he'll be an outstanding player. It all will come down to how much he wants to work and how hungry he is."

Pat Williams, executive vice president of the Magic, which holds the No. 1 pick, says he's as smitten with Howard's character as his basketball talent. Howard is humble, a devout Christian and was a good student in high school. "You can't help but be impressed with that young man," Williams says.

Howard's wholesome, G-rated persona has led to questions about his toughness, but most NBA scouts don't seem concerned.

"The young fella has a nice package," says Raptors scout Walker D. Russell. "All he needs to do is go around the NBA once and he'll see that he belongs."

And his humble nature should not be confused for a lack of confidence when it comes to basketball; he compares his playing style to a combination of Garnett's and Tim Duncan's.

"Kevin Garnett is so versatile," Howard says. "He can bring the ball up, play more than one position, score inside and out. I can do all of those things. Tim Duncan has a poise about him when he gets on the court. He's strong mentally and doesn't have bad games. I bring those two characteristics into one."

Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale says Howard has one advantage over Garnett as a rookie. "Kevin was big and skinny. (Howard's) big and strong," says McHale.

Brown didn't think about the NBA until after his senior season in high school, when the lure of guaranteed lottery money forced him to pass on a scholarship to Florida to help support his family.

"He came in and wasn't ready," Howard says of Brown. "I'm mentally focused. I feel I can overcome any situation."

Howard knew he was NBA-bound when colleges stopped recruiting him last summer, after he had destroyed every big man he faced on the recruiting circuit with his array of bank and hook shots.

"My only weakness? Playing like a beast," says Howard. "A lot of people want to see it. They want to know if I can take the beating every night in the NBA. I know I can. The more I get beat, the stronger I'll get."

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