The NHL Draft 2013 results are here and the though Seth Jones slid all the way down to no. 4, the Jay-Z sports client has made history as the first African-American player to be selected with top-five pick.

“I think I can be a solid defenseman, produce a little bit offensively, as well,” Seth tells the USA Today. "I know people say it takes time for defensemen to really grow in the league, a couple years at least, so hopefully I can prove that theory wrong."

Willie O’Ree, the first black player in NHL history, was at the Prudential Center to shake the hand of the defenseman who made history.

“I’m still alive to see this, and I’m thrilled,” say Willie O’Ree, 77, who played for the Boston Bruins in 1958.

Jones was ranked no. 1 by a few NHL teams, but his final destination was at the Nashville Predators via a no. 4 spot. The no. 1 pick was Nathan MacKinnon who was selected by the Colorado Avalanche, and Alexander Barkov was no. 2; the Finnish center was chosen by the Florida Panthers. Third overall pick Jonathan Druin goes to Tampa Bay Lighting. He was MacKinnon’s linemate with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League reported the USA Today.

Serving as accolades to their team’s newest member, Predators general manager David Poile said that Jones “is a franchise-type player.”

The son of former NBA player Ronald “Popeye” Jones, Seth grew up playing his youth hockey in Colorado and Texas. According to the USA Today, the elder Jones wasn’t concerned on how high his son was drafted.

The historical significance, however, of his son being drafted this high has yet to “soaked in,” said Ronald.

"But I've always said (what) if guys like Lebron James, Dwyane Wade or Alan Iverson had put on skates when they were four or five. I wonder what kind of hockey player you would get," Popeye told the USA Today.

Poile noted that a unique set of circumstances has led them to Jones, not the least of which was the fact that the four highest-rated players all have the potential to become stars.

It is possible that Seth will have the opportunity to play with star player Shea Weber. The new defenseman is being eyed as a potential replacement for Ryan Suter, who the team lost to free agency last summer.

The team’s general manager said that Seth will be given every opportunity to make the team next September. There’s also the possibility of him being part of the 2014 U.S. Olympic team.

Asked about the chances of Seth’s international game debut, Polie who was named the Team USA’s GM, said “they’re improving.”