Scott Whittum WNBA Mock Draft – 14 April 2012

April 14, 2012 · Scott Whittum
1. Nnemkadi Ogwumike 2. Shenise Johnson 3. Courtney Hurt 4. Glory Johnson 5. Samantha Prahalis
Round 1
1 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles Nnemkadi Ogwumike SF Stanford
Ogwumike should have  similar instant impact like Maya Moore had for Minnesota last season. She can score from pretty much anywhere on the floor. The big stage of Stanford should serve as great preparation for the WNBA Western Conference grind in 2012-13.
2 Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Seattle (from CHI) Shenise Johnson SF Miami (FL)
With Lauren Jackson being out due to Olympic team commitments. Johnson will bring an explosiveness to the Storm lineup that should elevate them back into the fray as Western Conference Contenders. 
3 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from WASH) Courtney Hurt SF Virginia Commonwealth
Hurt has consistently grown in her game during her VCU career.  Her explosive ability to score the basketball should allow her to compete right away for significant playing time for the Lynx.
4 Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Tulsa Glory Johnson PF Tennessee
Johnson had an excellent senior season at Tennessee. Her ability to dominate the glass will be a huge help to a Shock team that needs help in all areas and shoring up the rebounding and defense will accelerate the rebuilding process.
5 San Antonio Silver Stars 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles San Antonio Samantha Prahalis PG Ohio State
The Silver Stars are in a position where they need to find a successor to Becky Hammon. Prahalis has all the speed and ball handling capability to step in right away  and start that process of transitioning from Hammon to Prahalis.
6 Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Phoenix Natalie Novosel PG Notre Dame
Novosel’s stock has risen greatly during her senior season. Skylar Diggins got the media attention but Novosel is the reason why Notre Dame was in the title game against Baylor.  She should fit in nicely with the Mercury’s high octane style of play.
7 New York Liberty 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles New York Shekinna Stricklen SG Tennessee
Stricklen was an honorable mention all-American and the leading scorer for Tennessee in 2011-12. She is very difficult to defend as she is very athletic. Stricklen could go higher depending on the strategy of teams like Seattle and Minnesota. Otherwise she would be a great fit with Cappie Pondexter and the Liberty.
8 Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Washington (from ATL) Riquna Williams PG Miami (FL)
This is an interesting value pick in this slot. Williams has top 5 talent but missing the NCAA tournament due to disciplinary issues for the Hurricanes is going to cause WNBA teams to ask some hard questions about Williams and her commitment at the next level.
9 Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Connecticut Khadijah Rushdan G Rutgers
Rushdan led the Scarlet Knights in scoring and assists. The Wade Trophy winner is an  excellent ball handler and distributor will help out the likes of Tina Charles by getting her the basketball down in the post for the Sun.
10 Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Washington (from SEA) Julie Wotja F Green Bay
Wotja is very versatile and was a Wooden Award Finalist in 2012.  She is very deadly from the three point arc, shooting  42 percent this past season.  She will also be a great defensive presence for the Mystics.
11 Indiana Fever 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Indiana Kayla Standish SF  Gonzaga
Standish was rock solid for Gonzaga. She can score from anywhere on the floor, defend and is overall a rock solid talent that you need on championship contending teams like the Indiana Fever.
12 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota Tiffany Hayes SG Connecticut
Hayes is a very balanced player who can score from behind the arc as she shot 41 percent last season while leading UCONN to another final four appearance.  Her championship stock should fit right in with a good shot to battle for a roster spot with the Lynx.
Round 2
13 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles (from TUL) Tavelyn James SG  Eastern Michigan
James is a very explosive scorer for Eastern Michigan. She should be able to compete for a roster spot as she is too explosive offensively not to be right in the mix for a spot on the rebuilding Sparks squad.
14 Atlanta Dream 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Atlanta (from WAS) Tyra White SG Texas A&M
White had a tough, injury plagued senior season for the Aggies.  She is a very tough defender that would have gone higher if she had stayed healthy. A great fit for the athletic, tough minded Atlanta Dream.
15 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles (from CHI) Cierra Bravard PF Florida State
Bravard should be able to compete for a roster spot but it won’t be easy with the likes of Candace Parker and Nneka Oguwmike in front of her.  But she shoots for a very high percentage from the floor and can get after it on the defensive end as she had over six rebounds per game this past season.
16 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles Devereaux Peters SF Notre Dame
Peters has now made it through two seasons without major injury. This should give scouts some sense of security regarding her long term durability in the WNBA.  She has great length that could cause a lot of problems for guards driving to the basket in the WNBA.
17 Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Tulsa (from SA) Sasha Goodlet C Georgia Tech
This could be a great value pick for the Shock. Goodlet has plenty of upside to her game. She led the Yellow Jackets to the Sweet Sixteen this past season. Goodlet upped her scoring to 14.5 points per game.  This could be an intriguing pick for Tulsa.
18 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from PHO) LaSondra Barrett SF LSU
Barrett can play all five positions. Her biggest strength she would bring to Minnesota in this slot is her ability to crash the boards and step out and hit the three as she hit 39 percent from behind the arc for LSU.
19 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from NY) Lynetta Kizer C Maryland
Kizer led the Terrapins to the Regional Final. She has a true post presence at the center position. Kizer served a suspension for the first three games of the season and came off the bench, so there may still be some unanswered questions regarding the center. However her potential athletically is off the charts.
20 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from ATL) Da’Shena Stevens SF St. John’s
Stevens is going to have a battle on her hands to make the roster. This  could be a case of someone that could impress in the Lynx camp to set herself up for a roster spot on another WNBA squad. She is very athletic and can score from anywhere.
21 Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Connecticut Jericka Jenkins PG Hampton
Jenkins had over seven assists per game for Hampton. She makes up for her lack of height with her dynamic ability to score and distribute the basketball. She should compete strongly in training camp for a roster spot.
22 Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Seattle Vicky Baugh C Tennessee
Baugh would provide some much needed depth for the Storm in the front court after trading Swin Cash and Lecoe Willingham away. Finally healthy in 2011-12, Baugh flourished on the boards and shot just under 60 percent from the field.
23 Chicago Sky 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Chicago (from IND) Regina Rogers C Washington
Rogers has been the poster child of perseverance at Washington. Rogers flourished in Kevin McGuff’s system this season shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor. She is very agile in the post. 
24 Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Phoenix (from MIN) C’eira Ricketts G Phoenix
Ricketts is an intriguing prospect for Mercury coach Cory Gaines.  She has the speed necessary to flourish in the super up-tempo Mercury offensive system.