Karl-Anthony Towns is ready to help the Minnesota Timberwolves become "a force to be reckoned with" after being selected with the first overall pick of the NBA Draft.

The Timberwolves, who finished with the worst record in the NBA as they went 16-66 last season, took the center after a fine showing in his only collegiate season with the University of Kentucky.

Towns averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game with Kentucky, earning consensus second-team All-American honours.

He now joins the previous two number one overall picks, Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins - who the Timberwolves acquired when they traded Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers - in Minnesota.

And Towns said: "My emotions are very high, I'm just so happy right now to be in this position and I can't believe that something like this would happen to a player like me and a person like me and a kid like me.

"We have an abundance of talent. As soon as we come together and get on the same page, we could be a force to be reckoned with."

The Timberwolves also acquired former Duke point guard Tyus Jones, selected by the Cavaliers with the 24th overall pick, in a trade that sent their two second-round picks to Cleveland.

Jones, who was born and grew up in Minnesota, said: "I was just super excited and extremely blessed and honoured [when he heard about the trade].

"I always wanted to play for the Timberwolves and be a Timberwolf. Growing up in Minnesota, it's truly what you dream of as a kid, going to games and watching on TV.

"So to be able to call myself one and knowing I'm going to put a Timberwolves jersey on is just truly a blessing."