NEWARK, N.J. — When Tristan Thompson’s name was called as the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft was announced on Thursday night, there were a few gasps echoing through the Prudential Center.

But Thompson himself wasn’t surprised at all.

Thompson, who played for Texas last season, was selected fourth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I worked out with them twice, and I felt after the second time that they might have a place for me,” Thompson said.

In his freshman year with the Longhorns, Thompson was named the Big 12 freshman of the year after averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers also had the No .1 pick in the draft and selected Duke point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving and Thompson are close friends since their days at prep schools in New Jersey. On Wednesday, Thompson said one thing he would like to do in the NBA is dunk on Irving.

“This is better,” Thompson said. “It’s good to have a good friend to go through this with. It’s like we are being reunited, a little Jersey rivalry, so I am happy.”

Irving was happy to welcome his friend to Cleveland.

“Having a friend and a fellow freshman coming with me is something I am really looking forward to,” Irving said. “I think we will work well together.”

Thompson could run into his Texas teammate Jordan Hamilton on the court next season. The forward was taken by the Dallas Mavericks with the 26th overall pick but traded to Denver.

The 6-7, 220-pound Hamilton averaged 18.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in his sophomore season. He earned consensus second-team All-America honors and was one of 10 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy (United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Year).

UT’s Cory Joseph won’t have to travel far to begin his pro career. The 6-3, 185-pound guard was taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th overall selection. It was the first time three Longhorns were chosen in the first round of the draft.

“A couple of my teammates are going through this process, too,” Thompson said. “It always helps to have friends going through it, too.”

Tomball High School product Jimmy Butler also was a first-round selection, but just barely. The senior out of Marquette was taken by the Chicago Bulls at No. 30, the final pick of the round.

jenny.dial@chron.com

Chronicle news services contributed to this report.