NEW YORK  — The Washington Wizards selected John Wall with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft Thursday.

The SEC player of the year is the first Kentucky player ever chosen first overall. He goes to a Washington team hoping to quickly bounce back after a disastrous season that included Gilbert Arenas’ season-ending suspension for bringing guns into the team locker room.

Wall could replace Arenas as the Wizards’ point guard, or perhaps play alongside him in a potential high-scoring backcourt.

After his name was announced to begin the draft, Wall hugged family members and donned a blue Wizards cap before climbing onto the stage to shake commissioner David Stern’s hand.

The Philadelphia 76ers took national player of the year Evan Turner from Ohio State at No. 2. The notoriously tough Philadelphia fans at Madison Square Garden liked the choice, loudly cheering and chanting “Evan Turner! Evan Turner!”