Who are the top 5 (senior) pro prospects from the Big 12?

[stever]

I thought I'd poll the experts here, I don't get to see many Big 12 games here in Michigan. What '05 seniors have the most pro potential? You've all got your favorites, I'm sure...anyone got a "sleeper" pick, deserving of wider recognition? Thanks in advance!

Steve in Michigan

[DblT81]

Best bet

Kendra Wecker
Dionnah Jackson

Maybe

Anne O'Neil
Cisti Greenwalt

[Row6Seat10]

One would have to think Kansas State's Kendra Wecker and Oklahoma's Dionnah Jackson would be top round picks. Iowa State has Anne O'Neil, Texas Tech has Cisti Greenwalt and maybe Nina Stone from Oklahoma St for my top five. Texas has a pair in Jamie Carey and Heather Schreiberand Kansas State's Laurie Koehn (based on her three point shooting ablity) could make somebodies roster.

[Jimi]

In a little more sleeper category I have been told by some folks in the know that Megan Mahoney will get a good look. Her assets are excellent defense, ability to play positions 1 to 3, Good ball handler and passer (she is two away from being the all time assists leader at K-State), she has an excellent three point shot (only problem being she does not shoot enough) and a very high level of basketball smarts. She is also a legit six foot tall and very durable and tough minded.

I am also sure that Jamie Carey will get a good look. The possible exception for her would be if the NCAA concludes that in fairness to her and Kansas State she deserves another year of college ball and KSU deserves a break because of last years folly of sending K-State to minny. The NCAA will give her another year but require her to play for KSU rather than Texas because Jody Conradt already has too much talent.

[Bball Girl]

I don't agree about Cisti...I think she has the potential and the skills, but sometimes she's too fragile for Big12 play much less WNBA play. I'd love to see her do it, but I don't think she'll get a look.

Wecker, Mahoney, Jackson, Carey & O'Neill are my picks..

[Jennifer]

Wecker, Jackson, Mahoney are my favorites to play at the next level, with Carey and O'Neill as maybes. I wonder if Steffanie Blackmon has a shot. Maybe a long one.

[swok34]

I wonder if Steffanie Blackmon has a shot.

I'm curious about Blackmon's prospects as well.

[DblT81]

Being small at your position in the WNBA works if you are very quick.

I don't believe Carey fits.

Blackmon would need an outside shot.

[Cyclones Rule]

I name that people are forgetting to mention is Katie Robinette. She is maybe the best player at ISU in terms of athletic ability. Her ability to handle the ball as well as any guard is another plus. The only question is does she want to pursure a pro career with a family to think about as well. She however deserves to be mentioned with other in this thread.

[Bball Girl]

Dblt81 - Do you feel the same way about Erin Grant? She's the same size as Carey and maybe a bit quicker...but not much.

Sometimes hard work and passion and skill mean more than your size or quickness...

[ladyhorns1fan]

In a little more sleeper category I have been told by some folks in the know that Megan Mahoney will get a good look. Her assets are excellent defense, ability to play positions 1 to 3, Good ball handler and passer (she is two away from being the all time assists leader at K-State), she has an excellent three point shot (only problem being she does not shoot enough) and a very high level of basketball smarts. She is also a legit six foot tall and very durable and tough minded.

I am also sure that Jamie Carey will get a good look. The possible exception for her would be if the NCAA concludes that in fairness to her and Kansas State she deserves another year of college ball and KSU deserves a break because of last years folly of sending K-State to minny. The NCAA will give her another year but require her to play for KSU rather than Texas because Jody Conradt already has too much talent.

LOL, Jimi! As much as I would love to continue watching Jamie play, I hope she does not. It is so difficult to watch and hold your breath every time she runs into a blind screen or hits the floor hard. I sure do love her, though!

HOOK 'EM!

[YCN]

I think that Jamie will take those degrees that she must have earned in her zillion years of college and put them to good use. I have a hunch she would make an oustanding college coach, because her analytical skills are second to none.

[ladyhorns1fan]

I think that Jamie will take those degrees that she must have earned in her zillion years of college and put them to good use. I have a hunch she would make an oustanding college coach, because her analytical skills are second to none.

Yep, me too! I've been thinking the same thing.

[BeBe]

LOL, Jimi! As much as I would love to continue watching Jamie play, I hope she does not. It is so difficult to watch and hold your breath every time she runs into a blind screen or hits the floor hard. I sure do love her, though!

I have to agree with you there. I love Jamie Carey's attitude and game but I would hate to see her get any more concussions. And the level of play goes up another notch or more when you get to the WNBA.

[Bball Girl]

I have to agree with you there. I love Jamie Carey's attitude and game but I would hate to see her get any more concussions. And the level of play goes up another notch or more when you get to the WNBA.

Absouletely...I think she could do it if she wanted it. But I don't see her making that move...she's got a lot of other plans and the smarts to take her where ever she wants to go.

[BearLady]

Steffanie Blackmon has a very nice outside shot. You just don't see it as much, as she's called on to play the post position more. But when she does step outside, she's got a great touch and a great conversion percentage. To me, her game is very versatile.

:bu:

[Jimi]

LOL, Jimi! As much as I would love to continue watching Jamie play, I hope she does not. It is so difficult to watch and hold your breath every time she runs into a blind screen or hits the floor hard. I sure do love her, though!

HOOK 'EM!

I won't argue with you. I too cringe when I see her run into a screen like she did in our game. Having said that if Jamie Carey decides she wants to play pro ball I would not bet against her. There are things she does not have but what she is is a BASKETBALL PLAYER. I can't help but be a fan of her.

[Cowgirlfan]

Today notwithstanding, I think Stone has a shot to make it. She certainly is talented enough offensively, and I'd like to see what she would do with lots of talent around her. Her defense needs a little work and her mindset needs a lot of work, but if they drafted solely on potential (and they don't), she'd be in.
I could really see her playing overseas for a little while and then getting in if her game matured.

[carolann]

I'm hoping that we'll see Jamie Carey at Texas next fall as a graduate assistant. It is interesting that for as good as Texas' seniors have been at the college level, the best WNBA prospects currently on the team are sophmore Tiffany Jackson and junior Nina Norman.

5 Big 12 WNBA prospects this year - K Wecker, D Jackson, M Mahoney, K Robinette, and either Anne O'Neil, Heather Schreiber, or S Blackmon.

[DblT81]

Let's review what happened to the best seniors from last season (received All-Big 12 recognition) regarding the WNBA:

Nicole Ohlde - Big 12 POY, drafted first round #6, great Rookie season

Stacy Stephens - drafted 3rd round #37, made a roster, but cut as soon as a veteran player came back.

Tera Bjorklund - was not drafted, made a roster as a project because 6'5 players with some skill don't come along every day.

Evan Unrau - drafted 3rd round #28, one of the most versatile forwards in the Big 12 couldn't make a roster.

Toccara Williams - drafted 3rd round #34, 5-9 PG with great defensive skill and quickness. Williams is one of those very rare players, a 3rd rounder who did make a roster. She then played more minutes than any other Big 12 rookie other than Ohlde

Maria Villarroel - drafted 3rd round #27, due to quickness, did not make roster

Caton Hill
Keasha Cannon-Johnson
Kate Fagan
Alexa Johnson
Stretch James
Randie Wirt

Also, Jia Perkins was drafted 3rd round #35, quickness

Sooooo, out of the 2004 graduates, the following were on rosters at the end of the season:
Ohlde, Bjorklund, Williams, Perkins.

Big or quick. That is what I based my list for 2005 upon.

In 2003, only Plenette Pierson and Lindsay Wilson were drafted from the Big 12. Wilson was a 3rd rounder who did not make a roster.

[TXSNOS]

In 2003, only Plenette Pierson and Lindsay Wilson were drafted from the Big 12. Wilson was a 3rd rounder who did not make a roster.
Although Tai Dillard was not drafted, she did make San Antonio's roster.

[dem]

And she is still ON that roster. Tai is currently playing in Israel (playoff game today). (And she also fits the category of "big or QUICK.")

Come to think of it, the fact that Tai Dillard was not a "premiere" player in the Big 12 and yet has stuck on a WNBA roster is pretty impressive. Texas fans should help us to explain this. My impression was that she really came on very strong in her senior year, and continued on from there.

[Texan]

Tai did come on her senior year, but she was always an outstanding player. She was injured and was completly out almost a full season and then it took a while to get range of motion back. If that hadn't happened, she would have been a more reconizable player.

I think her success in the WNBA is due to her quickness combined with a very cool head, impressive defensive skills and an almost perfect jump shot. The other UT players nicknamed her Classic because her jump shot was indeed classic. Her coaches know they can put her in and even if she isn't a super star, she will hold down the fort. I miss her as much as any player that has left the UT program.

In my opinion, her leadership and steadiness on the floor was the difference between UT making the final four with her and only going to the sweet sixteen without her.

[hornsofthedillema]

Tai had been injured one year and took a year to recover. That had an impact on her playing and on her visibility in the Big 12. She was always a hard worker all the time and the fastest player I've seen on the court. She's also VERY SMART (she was valedictorian of her HS class) and this translated to court smarts. She was one of Jody's Defensive Specialists which often get overlooked in the Big 12. She took a STRONG leadership role her senior year which raised her visibility in the eyes of everyone. She also has a "Classic" jumpshot which one of the media commentors noticed which gave her her nickname.

Tai is great. We got to see her this season at a game and she's adjusting to life in Isreal.

[JohnHenry]

Tai is a good example of how quick players with solid fundamentals can make it in the pros. In her senior season she didn't post gaudy numbers, but seemed to always be in the right place for the timely steal, stop, rebound or pull-up J.

I see Wecker and DJ being drafted, probably in the 1st round, Blackmon likely in the 2nd or 3rd and maybe Schreiber, Mahoney, Greenwalt, Stone, O'Neill may be late picks or get a look in camp as free agents. Maybe 2 or 3 will make a roster or head to Europe, etc.

I too think Jamie Carey could make a place for herself in the Show but perhaps it's not in her long-term interests considering her history and given that the money isn't that good.

If Jamie does decide to pursue a coaching career, there's no doubt in my mind she'll be a very successful one and I would look forward to seeing her hoist a NC trophy as a coach one day. For that matter, I see her being hugely successful no matter what she decides to do after this season.

[DblT81]

Bringing this February discussion back to the top. We should all listen to Jimi. :)

A ways to go before final rosters on WNBA teams are set in late May. Interesting to see how the process is going so far compared to the predictions.