Former North Carolina forward John Henson (right) was the third North Carolina player selected in the NBA draft on Thursday night. Henson went at No. 14 to Milwaukee while Tyler Zeller (left) was selected three picks later. PHOTO: Robert Willett

NEWARK, N.J. — If he was still available by pick No. 14 in the NBA draft, John Henson said he knew the Milwaukee Bucks would select him there. Henson was right.

The Bucks took Henson, the former North Carolina forward, with the 14th pick in the draft. Henson became the third Tar Heels player to be selected on Thursday night, behind Harrison Barnes (No. 7 to Golden State) and Kendall Marshall (No. 13 to Phoenix).

Here’s what Henson had to say after being drafted: 

Tyler Zeller (left) and John Henson (right) will join Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall in the first round of the NBA draft tonight. The only questino is where the Tar Heels foursome will be selected. PHOTO: Robert Willett

NEWARK, N.J. — Welcome to the NBA draft. It’ll start in just about an hour or so. Then, of course, we’ll learn where North Carolina prospects Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller will be selected.

Will the foursome replicate – or even beat – the Tar Heels’ 2005 draft class? Four UNC players that year – Raymond Felton, Sean May, Rashad McCants and Marvin Williams – were selected among the top 14 picks. There’s a chance that the current group of Tar Heels matches that feat. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out the story I wrote that ran today about how UNC’s players are embracing their new beginning. Without the enormous expectations that surrounded them throughout last season at UNC, the three players here – Barnes, Henson and Zeller – seem more relaxed. The pressure is off.

And after you’re checking that out, here’s some bonus material: Barnes, Henson and Zeller on a variety of topics as they embark on the start of their professional careers …

Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller (not pictured) are all expected to be first-round picks in the NBA draft. But where? PHOTO: Robert Willett

NEW YORK — Welcome to New York. I’m coming at you live from the Westin in Times Square where, in less than hour, we’ll begin hearing from the 14 players who were invited to attend the NBA draft. Among them: North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, all of whom are projected to be draft lottery picks.

Kendall Marshall, by the way, is not here. Though no one would be surprised if he wound up being a lottery pick as well when the draft commences on Thursday night at 7:30.

Between now and the start of the draft, there’s likely to be a good amount of speculation, rumors and guesses about which players is headed where. Outside of Anthony Davis, the former Kentucky freshman who’s a lock to be the No. 1 pick, this draft appears as wide open as any in recent memory.

Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall are all projected (along with Tyler Zeller, not pictured) to be top-15 picks in the NBA draft. PHOTO: Robert Willett

The NBA draft order was announced last night and we know at least two things as a result: For one, the Charlotte Bobcats are suffering from some bad juju. First they suffer through one of the worst seasons in the NBA history, and then they lose out on the No. 1 pick. Second, and more important, we know it’s now officially NBA mock draft season.

That means, of course, that we know now where some people think other people will be drafted. A quick Google search for “NBA mock draft” turns up no shortage of results. Here are five of them:

DraftExpress
HoopsHype.com
NBADraft.net
SBNation
Sporting News

And here’s a look at where North Carolina’s players – Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller – are projected to be selected. At least according to the aforementioned mock drafts.

CHAPEL HILL — Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall are leaving North Carolina and will enter the NBA draft, the school announced in a statement on Thursday.

Barnes, a forward, and Marshall, a point guard, are both foregoing their final two years of eligibility. Henson is leaving the Tar Heels, meanwhile, after his junior season.