Alex Len led the Terps with 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in a 72-69 loss to No. 3 Kentucky on Nov. 11.

Alex Len said last week he would be emotional when he heard his name called by NBA commissioner David Stern at Thursday’s NBA draft the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Could you blame him? The former Terrapins men’s basketball center left his home in the Ukraine at age 13 to attend the country’s best basketball school and traveled thousands of miles to attend this university in 2011 with an NBA future in mind.

Thursday night, Stern did call Len’s name to cap his emotion journey to the league. He wasn’t drafted first overall, which some reports indicated was likely, but when the Phoenix Suns selected Len with fifth overall pick, the Ukrainian center’s NBA dreams were realized.

Len, a 7-foot-1 center who averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in his sophomore season, becomes the first Terp selected in the top five since the Vancouver Grizzlies selected guard Steve Francis second overall in 1999.

“I just can’t explain my words. Two years ago I had no idea I’d be at this point. I’m so happy,” Len told Shane Battier, a Miami Heat player serving as an ESPN reporter, moments after he shook hands with Stern.

Len said he’s most excited to play against Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who’s rumored to be on the trading block, and Spurs forward Tim Duncan.

He’s the fourth Terp drafted in the first round since 2000 and he also becomes the first player drafted in the first round after playing under coach Mark Turgeon. While at Texas A&M, Turgeon coached DeAndre Jordan, who was taken in the second round of the 2008 draft.

“We are very proud of Alex,” coach Mark Turgeon said in a press release. “He has worked extremely hard to become a top five selection in the NBA Draft. He is committed to getting better each day and will continue to do so as he makes the transition to the NBA. Alex has come such a long way in just two years both on and off the court and we are all very excited for what the future holds for him. This is a great day and exciting time for the Maryland Basketball program.”

Phoenix already has an established big man in Marcian Gortat. His presence may indicate that the Suns plan is for Len to come off the bench for a year or more while learning the NBA game from a veteran.

The Suns went 25-57 last season, finishing in last place in the Western Conference. Phoenix has been rebuilding since guard Steve Nash left the team last offseason. The team hired new coach Jeff Hornacek in late May.

Point guard Goran Dragic led the Sun with 14.7 points per game last year, but the team relied on a balanced attack. Six players on the team averaged double-digit points last season. The balance and solid guard play should bode well for Len, who often struggled to get touches in the Terps’ half court offseason.

The lack of an All-Star on Phoenix’s roster, though, means that the team is still searching for an identity after Nash — a two-time MVP — departed for the Los Angele Lakers last summer. Len seems primed to be a part of that identity.

“I’m excited, dreams come true,” Len said. “I’m so honored to be here, so glad to be here and go to Phoenix.”

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