A day after the Suns selected Kansas forward Markieff Morris with the 13th pick in Thursday's NBA draft, a job description was starting to form.

"We need a guy that can add some toughness to our team," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said at Friday's news conference to introduce Morris.

"We need a guy defensively that can rotate and do some things. He does all that, but I think the big thing for us is, he adds all that to our team, but he also offensively is exactly the way we play with what he brings to the table. He's a stretch player that can open up the floor. He can get out and run. . . . It was just a great fit for us."

All across the NBA, teams were saying similar things about shiny new draft picks. A great many might have to change to grow into their roles, but Morris, 6 feet 10 and 245 pounds, is one who seems to have the tools right from the start. Although he admitted the moment hadn't yet hit home, he said this is where he wanted to be, in Phoenix. Taking passes from Steve Nash, establishing a defensive presence inside.

"It's a lifelong dream, and it was a long journey to get here," Morris said.

At Kansas, Morris and twin brother Marcus - drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 14th pick - were a potent combination. Marcus was the better scorer, but the Suns were more impressed with Markieff, born seven minutes earlier than his brother. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 24.4 minutes, and his efficiency was off the charts. His effective field-goal percentage, which takes into account the extra value of a made 3-pointer, was 62.7 percent, 17th best in the country.

As a junior, Morris made 25 of 59 from 3-point range.

"I had to change my shot a little bit," Morris said of a perimeter touch he showcased more and more as his career unfolded. "I had to shoot higher, I (had been) shooting more direct. And I was just getting older and having the green light to shoot the 3."

Still, it was Morris' defensive potential and never-back-down attitude that impressed the Suns the most. During workouts, Gentry noticed Morris' defensive presence and how he seemed to understand angles and rotations.

Asked about his toughness, Morris pointed to his mother, Thomasine, seated in the front row.

"She made me tough," he said. "Growing up in Philly, it was tough, and that's one thing I'll always remember, where I'm from."

Gentry expects that type of attitude to help the Suns, perhaps sooner than later.

"Obviously, there's a learning curve he's going to go through," he said. "For me, I just know that somewhere down the line he's going to be a really good player for a long time in this league."