PORTLAND -- The line snaked out of the door to Binga's Stadium Smokehouse and Sports Bar onto Free Street -- and they weren't there just for the wings.

Slowly, they entered the door and went downstairs where about 300 fans crowded into the lounge, awaiting the announcement of the first draft pick in the history of the Maine Red Claws, Portland's newest professional sports team, the NBA Developmental League affiliate of the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats.

Kaleb Titherington, a 17-year-old senior at Deering High, was there with his mother, Tiffany, and sister, Katasia. They bought season tickets, said Tiffany Titherington, because "we love basketball and it's a great opportunity to spend quality family time together."

But, Kaleb said, they were here, shoulder to shoulder with other season ticket holders, "because I want to see the players who are coming to Portland."

They didn't have to wait long. At about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the crowd cheered as Jon Jennings, the president and general manager of the Red Claws, announced that Paul Harris, an all-Big East forward from Syracuse, was the team's first pick.

At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Harris was considered one of the most athletic prospects in the draft, earning comparisons to the Boston Celtics' Tony Allen. He averaged 12 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 37 minutes last year.

"I love him," Jennings said. "Honestly, we had Paul Harris much higher in the first round. We never thought he would fall to eight. I've always loved tough players. And I don't think there was anyone tougher in the draft than Paul Harris."

Harris was actually working out during the draft -- "That's my kind of guy," said Jennings -- rehabbing an ankle that he injured six weeks ago in the Utah Jazz' camp. Harris doesn't know much about Portland -- "Honestly, the only thing I know is that it's cold there," he said -- but said in a phone interview that he's confident the ankle will be ready and that he was "can't wait to get there."

"I'm going to go out and give it all I've got," he said. "That's always been my trademark, from high school on up. Defense comes first, I want to stop the other guy from scoring. I feel I bring a lot of energy and toughness to the team."

Red Claws coach Austin Ainge was not at the draft, instead he was home sick with the flu. He was on the phone with the Red Claws staff throughout.

The Red Claws made seven other picks in the eight-round draft, including some that Jennings considered steals: second-round pick Darnell Lazare, 6-8, 240-pound power forward out of LSU, who spent the last two years playing in Europe; fifth-round pick Scooter McFadgon, a 6-5 guard out of Tennessee who has two year of D-League experience; and sixth-round pick 6-6 forward Anthony Terrell, a veteran of two D-League seasons. They used the eighth-round pick to select Matt Clement of Maine Maritime Academy, a Lawrence High School graduate.

"For an expansion team, I think we've done well," Jennings said. "The coaching staff and myself, we're thrilled with the picks."

Some of the names may have been unfamiliar to all but the most diligent basketball fans. But that didn't matter on this night. Billy Thomas, a former guard out of Kansas who was introduced as the team's first player earlier in the day, was stunned at the wall-to-wall gathering.

"Being a veteran of the minor leagues, I've been to several first-night happenings," said. Thomas, who received a loud ovation when he was introduced by Jennings. "This is by far the most fans, and the most excitement.

"I know, from this, that they are looking forward to the start of the season."

The fans came because they wanted to show their support.

"We wanted to watch," said Jeff Douglas, of Gorham, who was there was his wife, Kathy. "They've done so well connecting with the community with everything they've done. It really bodes well for the future."