In the most ideal scenario, all four of his former players would have heard their names called on NBA draft night at Madison Square Garden.

But University of Maryland men's basketball coach Gary Williams gladly settled for the next-best thing. And it still marked the best draft he has ever enjoyed during 13 seasons in College Park, coming on the heels of the Terrapins' first-ever national championship.

Sophomore power forward Chris Wilcox (Los Angeles Clippers), senior shooting guard Juan Dixon (Washington Wizards) and senior center Lonny Baxter (Chicago Bulls) were selected, marking only the second time in Maryland history that three Terps were taken in the first two rounds.

That also happened in 1999 - when Steve Francis led the way as the second overall pick and was followed by second-round choices Obinna Ekezie and Laron Profit - but the current group shines a little more. The NBA has employed a two-round draft since 1989.

Wilcox and Dixon were taken with the eighth and 17th picks, with Baxter going to the Bulls in the second round at No. 44. For the first time during Williams' tenure, two players were selected in the first round of the same draft. That also happened in 1981 (Buck Williams and Albert King) and in 1974 (Tom McMillen and Len Elmore), when Lefty Driesell coached the Terps.

"I guess this is the last step, seeing how your seniors do after their college careers are over. I was hoping for four," said Williams, who thought Wilcox would be taken one lottery slot higher by the New York Knicks. "I wasn't worried about Chris. You knew he was going to go somewhere in the top 11. After the Knicks passed on him, I thought he would end up with Phoenix [at No. 9].

"I was worried about Juan. It seems like nobody wants to believe Juan is a great player because of his size [6 feet 3], even though he did more in an NCAA tournament than any player I've ever seen. With Lonny, it was the size thing again [he is listed at 6-7]. Ten years ago, before there were so many foreign players in the draft, Lonny would have been a first-round pick. But he'll get a chance to play in Chicago."

Had Byron Mouton been drafted, it would have marked the first time that four Terps were picked in the first two rounds. Williams thinks the 6-5 guard from Rayne, La., will find a niche soon, either as a free-agent invitee at an NBA training camp or in Europe.

"Byron is one of those players who doesn't do one thing great, but if you add everything up, you've got a good, smart player," Williams said. "He's like a utility infielder who can play two or three positions. You need a guy like that on your team."

Terps to pros

This year's NBA draft marked the second time three Maryland players were drafted in the first two rounds, and the third time two Terps were taken in the first round. Top years for Terps in the draft:

1974

Player, Team Round/Overall

Tom McMillen, Buf. 1/9

Len Elmore, Wash. 1/13

1981

Buck Williams, N.J. 1/3

Albert King, N.J. 1/10

Ernest Graham, Phi. 3/68

Greg Manning, Den. 7/147

1999

Steve Francis, Van. 1/2

Obinna Ekezie, Van. 2/37

Laron Profit, Orl. 2/38

2002

Chris Wilcox, L.A.C. 1/8

Juan Dixon, Wash. 1/17

Lonny Baxter, Chi. 2/44