introduced as the highest Heat draft pick in team history. Most of the estimated 4,000 fans at the team's draft party stood and cheered when Beasley's name was announced; one young boy even wore a Heat jersey with "Beasley" stitched over the name of a former Miami player  Shaquille O'Neal.

"I don't think there was any question on our part," said Riley, the Heat president who retired as head coach after this past season. "We love Michael. He's an incredible athlete. He's a great scorer. I don't even want to get into talking with you about the numbers we've analyzed. They're really off the charts."

Beasley averaged 26.2 points and a Division I-best 12.4 rebounds in his lone season at Kansas State. The Heat were largely silent in thehim do that," Riley said.

Beasley, according to the people around him, would be thrilled to be on South Beach for years to come.

"He can't wait to get going," said Bruce Shingler, who left his job on Kansas State's basketball staff to be Beasley's mentor for his first pro season.

Many observers tabbed Beasley as the top talent in college basketball last season. Listed at 6-foot-10  but standing closer to 6-foot-8  Beasley has both the power to finish around the basket and the finesse to step outside, meaning he could play either forward position for the Heat.

And clearly, Miami could use the help.

"We needed a lot of holes filled," Riley said. "And we still do."

Spoelstra insisted that the Heat drafted Beasley with a plan to keep him.

"Michael is