 |
|
| Tuesday, April 13 Jones, Brunson, Christon shine at camp By Graham Hays ESPN.com |
|||||||||||
|
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- You think it's tough sitting in a board room with Donald Trump? Try conducting a two-day job interview in front of representatives from 13 potential employers, with 29 other candidates simultaneously stating their case. That was the challenge facing 30 seniors at the recent WNBA pre-draft camp. Top seniors Diana Taurasi, Alana Beard, Nicole Powell, Lindsay Whalen, Nicole Ohlde, Kelly Mazzante and Vanessa Hayden skipped the camp, secure in their first-round status or committed to other endeavors. But from likely first-round picks Chandi Jones, Shameka Christon, Rebekkah Brunson, Shereka Wright and Stacy Stephens to players hoping to show enough to earn second- or third-round consideration, there was plenty of action at the Madison Square Garden training facility in Tarrytown, N.Y.
Solidifying Status The top prospects in attendance did little to harm their draft status, although the pick-up style scrimmages also made it difficult for player to truly shine. Among the highlights:
"After our season was over," Christon said, "all I kept thinking about was 'I've got to get in the gym, I've got to work out and I've got to take every opportunity and chance that I get to go back out and showcase what I can do.' " All the work seemed to have paid off, as Christon was one of the most impressive performers on the second day of camp. She displayed good touch from behind the arc, as well as an ability to use her 6-foot-1 frame to get shots in the lane and get after rebounds. At this point, it's tough to see a versatile player such as Christon slipping past the first 10 picks.
Stock Rising Several players not considered likely first-round material stood out during competition: Amisha Carter: In a draft deep in post talent, Carter doesn't get much attention. The 6-2 forward/center was the WAC Player of the Year, averaging 16.9 points and 10.8 rebounds for Louisiana Tech. In Tarrytown, she was a standout in the showcase scrimmage during the camp's final day, chipping in 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. She showed good quickness and soft hands, looking comfortable posting up a bigger defender in Virginia Tech's Ieva Kublina. Think of Carter as a second-round Vanessa Hayden. Jenni Benningfield: An honorable mention AP All-American after her junior season, Benningfield saw her numbers tumble this season as she battled a stress fracture in her foot and an offense that wasn't ideal for her skills. But at the pre-draft camp, Benningfield showed the 3-point range that was missing this season at Vanderbilt and appeared to be moving at full speed. The talent level in Tarrytown didn't tell us if she has the quickness to stick with WNBA's small forwards on defense, but her offensive game should land her on someone's roster. Erika Valek: It's a deep draft, but Valek might benefit from standing out at one the thinnest positions. Clearly the best point guard on the court in Tarrytown, Valek always appeared in complete control of her teams. She also held her own on the defensive end, despite often matching up with bigger guards. The biggest question at the next level will be how much Valek can contribute on the offensive end, as she's probably not quite talented enough to survive purely on defense and passing -- a la Debbie Black.
Tough Gig While this class of seniors is considered the deepest in the history of the league, much of the talk on the sidelines centered on the difficulty many of these players will have making a roster. With the influx of college talent the last two seasons and the dispersal of players from disbanded franchises in Portland, Miami and most recently Cleveland, rosters have never been deeper. Consider the roster of the Phoenix Mercury, a team with three of the first 14 picks in the draft.
Anna DeForge The worst team in the league last season has 10 players who figure to be tough to displace in training camp, not to mention veteran contenders such as Edniesha Curry, Sonja Mallory and Dalma Ivanyi and Iziane Castro Marques. That leaves little room for rookie projects, making training camp and preseason games all the more important. 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. |  2004 draft coverage
|
||||||||||
