TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- The first time Shereka Wright hears her name mentioned this week might be when Val Ackerman steps to the podium to announce which WNBA team just used its first-round pick to select the Purdue senior.

And that's just fine with Wright. She's used to being the forgotten player in the most-heralded draft class in league history.

	AP second-team All-American Shereka Wright averaged 20.1 points and 6.1 boards at Purdue last season.

Diana Taurasi and Alana Beard are the group's unquestioned headliners, but it's the depth of talent available to all 13 teams that has the league buzzing. Miss out on Taurasi or Beard and teams still find themselves ordering a uniform for Nicole Powell, Lindsay Whalen, Kelly Mazzante or Nicole Ohlde.

Or Wright.

Often overshadowed in the Big Ten by Mazzante -- who had an offense built around her at Penn State -- and Whalen -- the hometown savior at Minnesota -- Wright still managed to land on The Associated Press All-America Second Team this season after averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds for Purdue.

But a loss to Georgia in the Sweet 16 -- the second time in three years a second-seeded Purdue squad lost in the regional semifinals -- ended Wright's college career before media momentum could make her one of the familiar faces in this year's tournament.

So while Mazzante, Whalen and a host of other potential first-round picks skipped the recent WNBA pre-draft camp, Wright spent two days April 7-8 playing and practicing at the Madison Square Garden training facility in front of coaches and executives from all 13 teams. In fact, Wright, Houston's Chandi Jones and Texas' Stacy Stephens were the only players among the 10 seniors on the AP first- and second-team to participate in the camp.

Why risk injury or negative reviews when she's already predicted to go in the first round?

"I just needed to play a little more before the draft happened," Wright said on the second day of the camp. "Getting some reps up and down the court was definitely important for me, and there was no reason not to come.

"I think it's something that's going to help me build a little more, and it might even help my situation in the draft with playing well here. We get to hear some things from the assistant coaches about the league, what's going on now and some things to help you out. So I think it's beneficial for me because I'm getting a head start on what the league is really about."

A blend of competitiveness, confidence and coachability will help Wright succeed at the next level, and she's quick to acknowledge her weaknesses as well as her strengths.

"My quickness and athleticism will help me out a lot with the league, just because the game's so fast-paced," Wright said. "It's not about if you're a great shooter, it's about if you can get your shot off and how you can create for yourself. I'm definitely working out my outside shot, and my ball-handling is something I'm going to be really focusing on. And trying to build my stamina up a little more and working in the weight room."

In some ways, Wright resembles San Antonio Silver Stars guard Marie Ferdinand, who was similarly overlooked in a deep draft. Selected eighth overall by Utah in 2001 -- as part of a draft class that included Lauren Jackson, Jackie Stiles, Tamika Catchings and Svetlana Abrosimova -- Ferdinand averaged 11.4 points per game as a rookie. And while Wright's mid-range game might not quite match up to the level Ferdinand was at coming out of LSU, Wright has the tools to be an instant offensive threat as a pro.

She also knows that being a "student of the game" is an equally important aspect of being successful at the next level, which is why Wright kept a watchful eye on the WNBA during her college career.

"It was important for me to watch," she said. "It's not about running plays and understanding everything, it's about going out there and knowing what you need to do in different situations."

Not that there won't be nerves at play when Wright reports at training camp in a matter of weeks.

"It's kind of scary, because you go into training camp and you don't know what to expect. It's the same situation when you go to college; you don't know what to expect," she said. "You just know there's going to be a lot of things going on, a quick pace and sticking with it is going to be the whole situation. It's about not being afraid, just being aggressive and playing your game."

Playing her game, without worrying about accolades or awards, is something Wright knows well. It's what allowed her to star without needing the spotlight at a storied program like Purdue, and it's what will make her an ideal addition for any of the playoff contenders looking for offense off the bench in the second half of the first round.

Instead of feeling any bitterness about the notoriety that would have come her way as part of almost any other class of seniors, Wright cherishes her place in this group and anticipates a bright future under the harsh glare of expectations.

"This class is looking forward to it. We're not putting any pressure on ourselves. We're not trying to take the places of any of the players who are already established in the WNBA," Wright said. "Lots of people are talking about us taking the place of veteran players, and that's not the case at all. We're trying to get better and learn from them. They are the ones who were here when it first started and they understand everything."

Fantasy Games Editor Graham Hays writes "Out of the Box" five days a week and also is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's Page 2. He can be reached at graham.hays@espn3.com.