Next Year's WNBA Draft

[HuskerFan86]

Much has been made of the lack of depth in this past years WNBA draft, but I thought it was actually quite good. The 2002 draft produced outstanding rookies like Sue Bird, Stacey Dales, Swin Cash, Nikki Teasley, Michelle Snow, Tamika Williams, and Tamara Moore, all of whom either start or play significant minutes for their team. I also think other draftees like Sheila Lambert and Ayanna Walker will make their impact felt in the next couple years iin the league. I just don't see why some experts considered this draft a weak one.

Anyways, getting to the point of this topic, who do you think will make a splash in the WNBA as a rookie next year? The only players who stand out in my mind are Vanderbilt's Chantelle Anderson and Mississippi State's LaToya Thomas, whom I think will both become immediate stars. Who else is out there for next year's draft? Will players like Lindsey Wilson and Plenette Pierson be able to crack the roster for WNBA teams next year?

They said that the 2002 draft was low on talent, but in less I'm overlooking some of players, the 2003 rookies don't look like they will make anywhere near the impact that the 2002 rookie class has made.

[swok34]

I agree that the depth of next year's is not as good as this past season....the folks on the WNBA board are saying the same thing.

The only two players I can think of are the two that you mentioned in Anderson and Thomas....I think a lot of folks are saying Anderson will probably go first. But then that depends on who gets the first pick and what they need.

It will be interesting to see not only how Lambert progresses for Year 2, but Danielle Crockrum and Rosalind Ross. I'm not certain I believe that Caufield's gonna make the roster next year, then again, depends on what she does this summer.

Odd how different systems affect players....Jacklyn Johnson had a really good rookie year, had a great summer overseas and then got waived by the new Orlando coach......

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 08-19-2002).]

[HuskerFan86]

Will players like Caton Hill, Lindsey Wilson, Karensa Barr, and Keasha Cannon even get a look by WNBA coaches?? What about Kara Lawson from Tennessee?

This year's senior class just isn't very deep. But just wait until 2004. When Ohlde, Hayden, Taurasi, Mazzante, Whalen, Chandi Jones from Houston, Perkins, Beard, Powell, Ebony Hoffman from USC, etc., etc., etc., are all eligible for the draft. That group of players will totally change the WNBA and force a lot of the veteran players into early retirement...

[mred]

Originally posted by HuskerFan86:
Will players like Caton Hill, Lindsey Wilson, Karensa Barr, and Keasha Cannon even get a look by WNBA coaches?? What about Kara Lawson from Tennessee?


I guarantee Wilson will get a nice long look. Unlike ISU's previous WNBA draftees (all finesse players), Wilson is a power player. She'll fit right in with the WNBA style of play. She'll at least make an opening day roster.

[YCN]

I definitely think Tennessee's Lawson will get a look. They just get oodles of talent at that school. Chamique Holdsclaw of the Mystics really surprised me this year with how much she has elevated her game, and I thought that she was a disappointing player in college. If she'd stayed healthy all season I think she might have been MVP. Still led the league in scoring and rebounding average.

[Moooooo]

I have always liked Gwen Jackson's game; I don't think Coach Summitt has found the right position (SF or PF) for her on a consistent basis, but she has dominated in some of the games I've watched.

[HuskerFan86]

A team that lacks an outside scoring threat would probably smart to pickup Alicia Ratay from Notre Dame. She is one of the better three point shooters I have seen in the last few years. IMO, Ratay could make an impact as a shooting specialist off the bench much like what Becky Hammon does for the Liberty.

So we've determined that the following players have WNBA ability:
Chantelle Anderson (Vanderbilt)
LaToya Thomas (Mississippi State)
Lindsey Wilson (Iowa State)
Kara Lawson (Tennesse)
Gwen Jackson (Tennessee)
Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame)

[elfdenmom]

Plenette Pierson will be available this year. She might get a good look.

[Moooooo]

Maybe Jocelyn Penn of South Carolina . . .

[DblT81]

A big reason there are few top seniors graduating in 2003 from college is that many of the top HS seniors either quit or will be graduating the next year due to transfers. Plenette Pierson was almost one of the casualties and so was Alisa Sare, but they made the choice to perservere rather than give up.

Here are the top 50 HS seniors for 1999 listed by Blue Star from 1-50: Q=quit, T=Transfer, I=injury

Q Nina Smith, 6-3, Waterloo West, IA WISCONSIN
Q Nicole Kaczmarski, 5-11, Lake Ronkokomo Sachem, NY UCLA
? Latoya Turner, 6-4, Pickerington, OH OHIO STATE
Gwen Jackson, 6-3, Eufala, AL TENNESSEE
T Tasheika Morris, 5-11, Huntsville Butler, AL TENNESSEE
Latoya Thomas, 6-1, Greenville, MS
I Jamie Carey, 5-4, Thornton Horizon, CO STANFORD
Chantelle Anderson, 6-4, Vanco. Hudson's Bay, WA VAND.
Alicia Ratay, 5-11, Lake Geneva, IL NOTRE DAME
T April McDivitt, 5-6, Connersville, IN TENNESSEE
Sabrina Scott, 6-3, Lake Oswego, OR COLORADO
? Shinikki Whiting, 5-10, Clearwater, FL FLORIDA STATE
Q Stephanie Jones, 6-1, Omaha Benson, NE NEBRASKA
Kaayla Chones, 6-3, Eastlake North, OH NC STATE
Kara Lawson, 5-9, West Springfield, VA TENNESSEE
Coretta Brown, 5-8, Statesboro Bulloch, GA N.CAROLINA
Q Kennitra Johnson, 5-7, New Albany, IN CONNECTICUT
Q Schuyre Larue, 6-2, Washington Arch. Carroll, DC VIRGINIA
? Keisha Tardy, 6-1, Jackson Murrah, MS
Michelle Matyasovsky, 6-1, Runnemede Triton, NJ DUKE
? Tonya McClure, 5-5, Lincoln Gahannah, OH OHIO ST.
? Felicia Roberson, 5-10, Elizabethtown, KY
? Katlyn Vujas, 6-3, Columbus Wadsworth, OH FLORIDA ST
Cheryl Ford, 6-3, Haynesville Summerville, LA LA TECH
Sheana Mosch, 5-10, Dubois Christian, PA DUKE
? Olga Gvozdenovic, 6-2, Wilmette Loyola, IL DUKE
? Natea Motley, 6-1, Detroit Western International, MI MINN
? Christine Cruz, 6-0, Philadelphia Southern, PA TEMPLE
Terah James, 5-7, W. Palm Sun Coast, FL NC STATE
? Mauri Horton, 5-8, Minneapolis North, MN RUTGERS
? Emily Butler, 5-7, Green.Center Grove, IN NORTHWESTERN
? Jennifer Thomas, 6-0, Detroit Country Day, MI N.CAROLINA
Erin Thorn, 5-9, Orem Mountain View, UT BYU
? Kristin Koetsier, 6-3, Grandview, MI WESTERN MICH.
? Kim Giddens, 6-1, Olney Nandua, VA ODU
? Kourtney Walton, 6-0, Chicago Marshall, IL RUTGERS
Plenette Pierson, 6-2, Kingwood, TX TEXAS TECH
? LeCoe Willingham, 6-0, Augusta Hepzibah, GA AUBURN
? Kaisha Lymon, 6-2, Donaldsonville, LA LSU
? Portia Mitchell, 6-3, Harbor City Narbonne, CA USC
Q Amanda Barkdale, 6-3, Clear Brook, TX NOTRE DAME
? Shavonna Hunter, 5-8, Chicago Hillcrest, IL ILLINOIS
? Maureen Magarity, 6-2, W.Falls Lourdes, NY BOSTON COL.
? Shawntese Charles, 6-0, Wash.St. John, DC GEORGETOWN
? Nicole Funn, 6-0, Pacific Palisades, CA OREGON STATE
Stasha Richards, 5-9, Houston North Shore, TX BAYLOR
? Leah Stewart, 5-6, Seattle Chief Stealth, WA
? Santia Jackson, 6-0, Chicago Latin, IL GEORGETOWN
Alisa Sare, 5-8, Lewisville, TX TEXAS
? Brandy Russia, 5-9, Cincinnati Western Hills, OH

Many of those with a ? I don't know and didn't care to look up because I have not heard them mentioned on any All Star lists.


[This message has been edited by DblT81 (edited 08-19-2002).]

[HuskerFan86]

Thanks Dblt, some additional players that stand out on that list are Cheryl Ford from La Tech (Both Lewis and Walker from La Tech made a roster this year), Kayla Chones, and NC's Corretta Brown. That increases the list to:

Chantelle Anderson (Vanderbilt)
LaToya Thomas (Mississippi State)
Lindsey Wilson (Iowa State)
Kara Lawson (Tennesse)
Gwen Jackson (Tennessee)
Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame)
Kayla Chones (NC State)
Cheryl Ford (Louisiana Tech)
Corretta Brown (North Carolina)

What ever happened to Schuye LaRue at Virginia? She had a big time sophomore season for the Cavs, I think she averaged 19 ppg and 12 rpg. She would definately be a WNBA prospect if she's still around.

[TXSNOS]

I think LaRue is playing overseas but am not certain of that.

TXSNOS

[ChipperF1]

The knock on next year's draft is kind of up in the air. If nothing else, looking at the Blue Star Top 50 of a few years ago, it just goes to show you that until they are on campus you just never know.

I concur that next year's conscripts, if you judge solely on the "star criterion" that most of the people who cover womens basketball preach in mantra-like tones, you see that there just isn't much there. But I see some diamonds in the rough, some solid role players and some people who could find the niche in the WNBA and make a nice little name for themselves.

There is a definite top two in my mind.
1. LaToya Thomas (MSU): Her talent is immense. Need to work on her court savvy and keeping her motivated, but when she's on, she's on. When she's not inspired (like in the 2000-2001 season), she can still be good.

2. Chantelle Anderson (Vandy): She has all the skills of a center and she's a grand athlete. Her main weakness in the pro game is that Chantelle needs to develop the competitive arrogance of a Lisa Leslie. You can intimidate Chantelle. At times you can make her quit. I think some of you know what word I'll use to describe Anderson's play at time. Such play will get you killed in the WNBA with players like Leslie, Yo Griffith and even Kelly Schumacher, Sue Wicks, Lauren Jackson around.

After that there is a class of player who, based on where the go can help you.

Lindsey Wilson is one of those people. A smart WNBA GM will grab her. She has the tools to set herself apart in the guard-heavy WNBA. She can drive to hole, shoot it, and pass it. Defense will be her question mark. Can see transition into the man-run-press style most WNBA employ.
A projection on Lindsey: If Van Chancellor has a shot to get her, he'll take that shot and Bill Walsh a lot of people to do it.

Gwen Jackson (Tennessee) Will be one of many players in this coming draft who will get a chance based more on their potential that actual collegiate results. That isn't saying Jackson did play well at UT. She's a talented player, but was in a system that perhaps didn't showcase her to the fullest extent. What will sell her to the league is her silky smooth game at mid-range offensive and her ability on the defensive end.

At the other end Kara Lawson (Tennessee) Looking empirically at her talent and ability alone, some teams will pass on Lawson. She's an okay ballhandler, defensively she is a step slow. Those liabilities will hamper her against the next level.
But Tank Girl will be winner in the WNBA for two reasons.
1. Kara's a deadly outside shooter and you can never have enough of those.
2. Her personality. Kara will be the type of player who other players feed off of. She's a leader who will challenge all comers. She has that special stubborness, confidence and pride that winners have, even with relatively limited talent. Plus, there's not much that she fears. This is a kid who went eyeball-to-eyeball with the U.S. National Team as a freshman, and hit big shots, including the game winning shot against the one of the best groups of womens basketballers ever assembled.
Kara Lawson is a player who will good on the floor and great in the locker room. She will earn respect from 10-year veterans and set a pace for a team.
I see her fitting best at team that has ballplayers but need toughness, a team like Sacramento, Utah, Orlando, Miami or New York. Being a Liberty fan, I'd love to see Kara Lawson in the Garden. We would love her in New York.
Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame): Will get a serious look because of her shooting. The Becky Hammon comparison is appropriate. Ratay can shoot the lights out. But she's also like Hammon in that she could be a defensive liability at this level

After that, a lot of players who's stock could go up and down. Those players include some big names, will be competing with a foreign talent pool I see teams taking greater looks at next year and a lot of college talent that is under the radar screen but will earn their way into a training camp and show out.

"Big Names" on the bubble right now.

Plenette Pierson (Texas Tech): The suspension last season dropped her stock. But I'd buy low here, because if Texas Tech does what I think the Lady Raider will do this year, Plenette will sell high. She has some rough spots to work on, such as rebounding strength on both ends of the floor. Her abilities here are good for college ball, but a mite weak for WNBA ball.

LaToya Turner (Ohio State) Great size, but could be a project at the WNBA level. A great college season will put her on a roster in the league.

Cheryl Ford (Louisana Tech): Has the bloodlines and has pieces of her dad Karl Malone's game. Also needs to have a breakout senior year to really set herself up for a good shot at cracking a WNBA roster.

Kaayla Chones (North Carolina State): She's been slowed by injuries and at times indifferent, uninspired play. If the draft was today, she's a third round pick, because her result are not in with her talent. Based on what I've seen in college play, she's definitely an overseas prospect at this time.

Sheana Mosch (Duke): She will get a look because of who she is and where she went, but her shortcomings (She's slow and is just standard defensively) will probably keep her on the outside looking in. An overseas assignment could be a good finishing school.

Coretta Brown (North Carolina): Has the skills, but does she have the will? At UNC, her committment was wanting in areas. But then again if Nikki Teasley can get there...who knows?

Chipper's Sleepers: Vive Le Steal!
1. Carla Bennett (Center-Drake): I'm biased and I'll admit it, but I'll beat the drum again for the best center that the "experts" don't know. Bennett doesn't have the sheer talent of Chantelle Anderson, but I'd take Bennett's aggressiveness in a heartbeat. She more of a classic center. She's not a smooth player in say the Lisa Leslie mode, but Bennett has good footwork inside, she has solid post moves, she can get dirty and root out space and defensively, she is a presence. This girl can alter shots, throw 'em back in people faces and projects that on a offensive team. Carla could be a 20-25 minute player in the WNBA in the right system, plus when games get more half-court she's an asset. On a team like New York, Cleveland, of Utah she's an instant asset, but she could be a good piece for teams seeking to build options beyond up-tempo alone.

2. Jocelyn Penn (Forward-South Carolina) The Gamecocks' leading scorer last season who will benefit for another great season. She's a tweener in that she's a little small for the forward spot, and not quite skilled enough for a guard position, but she plays bigger than she is, and I think she'll be a match for some of the more finesse small forwards and swingmen in the WNBA right now.

3. Petra Ujhelyl (Center-South Carolina) 6-4, big body, tough rebounder and a physical defensive presence that you expect for Eastern European players. She isn't Eurosissy, and Carla Bennett will attest to that after going 15 rounds with Ujhelyl in the NCAAs last season. The only knock on her is she needs some Pete Newell-style offensive instruction. She's a little unpolished on the offensive end, but is a project worth taking on.

4. Amanda Barksdale (Forward/Center-Notre Dame) 6-3, has the body to be an effective power forward, backup center. Good rebounder and has a shooting touch. The only downsize is that Barksdale is a little too finesse for her body type and her size. She needs get a little tougher. Plays a lot like Tamika Whitmore, and Whitmore was seen as a little soft coming out of the college, too. If Barksdale toughens up to Whitmore's standard, she'll be a solid WNBA player.

5. Caton Hill (Forward-Oklahoma): Caton could be good bench role player in the WNBA. She moves good without the basketball, is a solid defensive player, and she can shoot the ball. If one can shoot well and get shots in the WNBA, you are valuble regardless of weakness in other area, because so much is still dependent more on the groundbound game. Plus, Caton does a lot of little things that WNBA team like to do well. Ask Dales and Caulfield how effective Caton is on plays off screens and picks. Her solidness in a "help" role on defense. Plus Caton seems taller than 6-1 and isn't a Dixon Ticonderoga in there, she's stocky and solid. She's a project in some respects, but there something there worth investigation.

7. Sabrina Scott (Forward-Colorado): Her health, or lack of it will probably rip her off for being a WNBA player. That's sad because Sabrina could be a good WNBA player. Scott brings a total game. She's athlete. Handle the ball well, can create her shot, can score. Defensively solid. Sabrina like quite a few players coming out this year, they are good enough to get a look in the WNBA, but they've been through so much wear and tear that teams will be scared off.
A memo to WNBA GM. Take a flyer on Sabrina Scott and her teammate Linda Lappe. They are worth the risk.

[DblT81]

Didn't Amanada Barksdale quit Notre Dame? I can't find the article so maybe I'm dreaming. She isn't listed on the 2002-03 roster on the ND website, though.

[HuskerFan86]

Good analysis Chipper. Will Keasha Cannon's lack of an outside shot and poor ball handling skills prevent her from getting a shot in the W? She has the athleticism and the tenasity to make it, but that probably isn't enough. Like stated before, whether or not certain players get drafted will depend on what kind of senior seasons they have.

I think this college season will be dominated by junior stars and senior role players.

[Jennifer]

Barksdale tranferred-I had heard Baylor was a possibility, but I don't know if that was ever confirmed.

I think Caton Hill could provide some solid backup minutes. Good analysis, Chipper. Caton is a smart player; I look for her to have a break-out season this year. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

If Sheila Lambert lives up to her billing, she could make waves as a potential ROY candidate next year.

[ChipperF1]

"Will Keasha Cannon's lack of an outside shot and poor ball handling skills prevent her from getting a shot in the W? She has the athleticism and the tenasity to make it, but that probably isn't enough."

If one could hand a spot on sheer will alone, I think Keasha Cannon would be in the WNBA, but ultimately it comes down to skills, and in a guard-heavy league KC gets caught in the numbers game. If Cannon was 6-2, she could be converted to a forward spot and earn a place. But she's 5-9, can't shoot and doesn't pass very well, and is a weak on-ball defender. She can penetrate and score off of it, and rebounds tough. WNBA team do like that those qualities, and that could be the Keasha route at least to getting in a tryout camp and even if a WNBA team doesn't look at her and overseas team will and she will have a chance to enhance pieces of her game to perhaps gets a WNBA spot a few years from now.

Keasha's hopes depend on how much work she does and what her role would be in a Connie Yori system. I know KC's putting in the work, but what kills her isn't so much her deficiencies but the deficiencies in the team around her. This year, teams that play Nebraska know one thing:

Stop Keasha Cannon, and you stop Nebraska.

Unless a second scoring threat comes through, Keasha's going to see a lot of doubleteams and trick defenses that will take away what she does best. You are going to see games where Keasha will have 15-20 shooting attempts and have to score points on a fair number of those because the rest of the team can't be counted on to take up those roles.

Cannon will average about 18-20 a game this season because she'll have to. There's just nothing to work with in Lincoln and the people who could best help her out aren't there.

As far as the entire season? I agree the Junior class has a lot of starpower, the senior class has solid role players and people you don't win without. The sophomore group looks pretty good and there's more impact freshmen like Ann Strother, Shanna Zolman and Erin Grant out there ready to rock.

Yep Huskerfan, its gonna be a fun year...Unless you are in Lincoln, Nebraska.

[HuskerFan86]

Here is a rough estimation of the draft order for next year. I thought it'd be fun to try and fill in the players that the teams will select based on their needs and what they already have.
Everyone take a shot at it and see how your "fantasy draft" stacks up to the real one next summer.

1. Detroit
2. Minnesota
3. Cleveland
4. Phoenix
5. Sacramento
6. Miami
7. Orlando
8. Portland
9. Indiana
10. Washington
11. Seattle
12. Charlotte
13. New York
14. Utah
15. Houston
16. Los Angeles

[HuskerFan86]

I'll go first...

1. Detroit - LaToya Thomas
She can start from day one for the Shock at power forward. With Swin Cash at the 3, Thomas at the 4, Barb Farris/Ayanna Walker at the 5 and Elaine Powell running the point, Detroit has some solid pieces in place.

2. Minnesota - Chantelle Anderson
She might be the finishing piece for what could be a great young team. Tamara Moore can run he point, Katie Smith at the 2, Svetlana Abrosimova at the 3, Tamika Williams can move to the 4, and Anderson at the 5 has the potential to be another awesome team in the West.

3. Cleveland - Gwen Jackson
A gamble worth taking for another team with many pieces already in place.

4. Phoenix - Plenette Pierson
This could change depending on how well she plays her senior year. Mercury needs speed in the front court.

5. Sacramento - Lindsey Wilson
Monarchs need shooting help (last in league in 3 pt %), Wilson can help in that area.

6. Miami - Kara Lawson
Provides back up for Sol's aging back court. Lawson could make a very good WNBA point guard.

7. Orlando - Cheryl Ford
Miracle has great perimeter game led by Shannon Johnson and Nykeasha Sales. What they need now is front court help. Ford has the body to bang in the WNBA


8. Portland - Jocelyn Penn
Portland could use another tall, athletic G/F type to help cover up their back court's lack of size on defense.


9. Indiana - LaToya Turner
The Fever has several positions already locked up. At the point they have Coquese Washington and Niele Ivey, at shooting guard they have Nikki McCray, they have Catchings at the small forward, and Scott-Richardson and Kelly Schumacher at the center. The only thing they lack is a big, solid power forward like Turner.

10. Washington - Sheana Mosch
The only decent point guard on the table, and that's what the Mystics need.

11. Seattle - Corretta Brown
Once again this may change based on her senior season. Storm has the point guard, the center, and the power forward, all they are missing is a great front court mate for Sue Bird.

12. Charlotte - Amanda Barksdale if she's still around...

13. New York - Carla Bennet
More size and skill to back up Tamika Whitmore and Tari Phillips inside.

14. Utah - Caton Hill
With Azzi, Ferdinand, Goodsun, Williams, and Dydek the Starzz have the ultimate starting lineup, they just need some help off the bench. Reuniting Hill and Caufield as well as big 12 rival Crockrom could form a very formidable bench.

15. Houston - Alicia Ratay
Three point shooting is her strength and defense is her weakness. Conversly, the Comets' weakness is three point shooting and strength is defense. A match made in heaven?

16. Los Angeles - Petra Ujhelyl
What do you give a team that already has everything? I don't know, it might as well be more size...

Well I took a stab at it. This obviously doesn't take into account injuries or how well these players do this season, or the international talent that I know nothing about. There are always a couple European stars out there just waiting to be found...