When Rick Rickert leaves the Miami Heat's practice facility this afternoon, the audition will be complete.

That's when the waiting and wondering begins for the Duluth native, who left the Gophers men's basketball program after his sophomore season. Where will he go in Thursday night's NBA draft? Will his combination of height and perimeter skills entice a team to take him late in the first round? Or will concerns about his lack of weight, toughness and a true position lead to Rickert sliding into the second round?

"I'm just excited," Rickert said. "It's a pretty exciting time for me. I think it will be a big relief to have it all done with. It's been a hectic last two months, flying all over the country."

While Rickert, who averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Minnesota, continues to be optimistic he'll be a first-round pick, others will be surprised if the former McDonald's All-America selection at Duluth East High School is chosen before the second.

"He could go late first, but more likely early second," said NBA draft analyst Chris Monter, a Lakeville resident who publishes the Monter Draft Report. "I've had a lot of people ask why he's in the draft. They don't think he's ready."