Scott Whittum WNBA Mock Draft – 13 August 2011

August 14, 2011 · Scott Whittum
1. Nnemkadi Ogwumike 2. Shekinna Stricklen 3. LaSondra Barrett 4. Samantha Prahalis 5. Shenise Johnson
Round 1
1 Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Tulsa Nnemkadi Ogwumike SF Stanford
The best pure overall player in the draft goes to a franchise in the Shock that needs everything, with just one win on the season. She will team up with Elizabeth Cambage up front  as building blocks for the moribund Tulsa franchise.
2 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from WAS) Shekinna Stricklen SG Tennessee
Stricklen should be able to come in and compete early and take the pressure off Maya Moore, the face of the Lynx franchise. This pick could also be a trade target for other non playoff teams in need of moving up in the draft to address a major need.
3 Chicago Sky 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Chicago LaSondra Barrett SF LSU
Barrett will be a nice inside presence to balance out the drafting of all star Courtney Vandersloot in the backcourt for the Sky. She will benefit greatly from the defensive oriented nature of new LSU head coach Nikki Caldwell in her upcoming senior season.
4 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles Samantha Prahalis PG Ohio State
Prahalis will be the engine to lead the Sparks moving forward. Her ability to distribute the basketball and her leadership on the court will certainly fill a need for the Sparks with this pick.
5 Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Washington (from ATL) Shenise Johnson SF Miami (FL)
Johnson’s ability to score the basketball and be a multi-dimensional threat in the process will be a huge addition to the Mystics as they work back towards the top of the Eastern Conference.
6 San Antonio Silver Stars 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles San Antonio Glory Johnson PF Tennessee
Glory Johnson will help the Silver Stars with her powerful inside presence to support Ruth Riley and give all star guard Becky Hammon more options to work with down low.
7 New York Liberty 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles New York Tiffany Hayes SG Connecticut
Hayes should come into the league very well prepared from battling the likes of Maya Moore for the majority of her college career. She will be relied upon heavily in 2011-12 season at UCONN.  Expect Hayes to be more than up to the task and position herself nicely for a strong fit with Cappie Pondexter and the New York Liberty.
8 Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Phoenix Riquna Williams PG Miami (FL)
Williams fits the up-tempo high octane style of the Mercury like a glove. With Shenise Johnson along side, look for another huge season for Miami with a sweet sixteen or  elite eight run.  That type of run and continued strong production should cement Williams in the late first round.
9 Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Washington (from SEA) Devereaux Peters SF Notre Dame
The upside with Peters is going to be too much to pass up. Peters has consistently gotten better and as long as she stays healthy during her senior year, the Mystics will be getting great value at this point in the first round.
10 Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Connecticut Tyra White SG Texas A&M
White will be relied upon a lot more with the graduation of Sydney Colson. Health has been a battle at times for White. When healthy, White is one of the top guards in  the country and will get plenty of exposure as the Aggies are the reigning national champions. A good value pick for the Sun at this point.
11 Indiana Fever 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Indiana Kayla Standish SF Gonzaga
Standish has versatility to score from the perimeter or inside, she takes over the Courtney Vandersloot role as  the Zags go-to player. Very underrated player with plenty of upside.
12 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota Courtney Hurt SF Virginia Commonwealth
The Lynx get stronger down low with the relentless effort and will to improve of Courtney Hurt. Hurt will definitely have a shot in cracking the final 11 for the Lynx.
Round 2
13 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles (from TUL) Whitney Hand SG Oklahoma
If Hand lives up to her potential to hit from the perimeter, she will compliment the drafting of Prahalis in the first round.  This should open things up for Candace Parker down in the paint as long Parker stays healthy for the Sparks.
14 Atlanta Dream 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Atlanta (from WAS) Brittney Griner C Baylor
This will change instantly if Griner were to be a rare early entry into the WNBA Draft. Griner by far is the most dominant player in Women’s College Basketball.
15 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles (from CHI) Keisha Hampton SF DePaul
Hampton is battle tested and plays with great skill at the wing for the Blue Demons. She brings versatility to the table for the rebuilding Sparks franchise.
16 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles Natalie Novosel PG Notre Dame
Novosel is the typical gym rat who has pushed herself into an elite point guard at the college level. The Sparks will shore up their backcourt with Prahalis and Novosel for years to come.
17 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from ATL) Cierra Bravard PF Florida State
Bravard is very skilled offensively and should challenge for a  spot on a loaded Lynx roster. The Lynx could trade out of this slot as well.
18 Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Tulsa (from SA) Kierra Mallard PF Texas Tech
Mallard should almost immediately play even as a second round pick for the Shock. The combination of her offensive skillsets down low and the presence of Oguwmike and Cambage should solidify the rebuilding upfront for the Shock for the next decade.
19 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from NY) Ashleigh Fontenette SG Texas
Fontenette will have to battle for a roster spot with the likes of Maya Moore and Monica Wright, but she could break through as a fourth guard at the back end of the Lynx roster.
20 Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Phoenix Jericka Jenkins PG Hampton
Jenkins should provide a nice supporting piece in the backcourt with all-star Diana Taurasi. Taurasi would not have to completely carry the Mercury with the additions of Riquna Williams in round one and Jericka Jenkins in the second round.
21 Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Seattle Ashley Gayle C Texas
Ashley Gayle is an athletic, defense oriented post who would be a great developmental player to eventually take over for Lauren Jackson a few years down the road.
22 Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Connecticut Alyssia Brewer PF Tennessee
Brewer is very athletic, and has plenty of potential. If she continues to evolve at both ends of the court, the Sun would add quality depth in their front line to backup Tina Charles.
23 Indiana Fever 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Indiana April Sykes PF Rutgers
Coach Dunn and the Fever will be looking to add more depth upfront with Sykes. Sykes has gradually improved each year and the toughness gained from playing in a C. Vivian Stringer run program will make her appealing at this point in the second round.
24 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota Sasha Goodlet C Georgia Tech
Goodlet has a strong post presence and has continued to improve throughout her career. A strong senior season should secure top 24 status and help potentially provide depth for the Lynx in the post.