Family backs 'an old soul' at heart

With only hours to go before Thursday's NBA Draft, the mother of Karl-Anthony Towns slid on a brand new pair of black stilettos, smoothed out her loose, fancy pantsuit in the lucky shade of Kentucky Blue and spoke confidently of her youngest child's ability to navigate what is to come in the big time.

One thing is for sure, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns said. She will still be mom.

"I don't think it will change our relationship at all," she said. "We discuss, he still seeks my opinion. We tend to absorb and listen to him. We're very close. That won't change."