Top 3 Picks in 2019 WNBA Draft?

[Carnac]

I don't think there's any doubt Turner will be a first round draft pick...it's just how high she goes is the question. To be frank, almost all 2nd round picks in the WNBA are pretty worthless in today's day and age. Turner, when healthy, is a sure fire top 6-7 pick in this draft. I doubt she falls farther than 10 unless she suffers another ACL or debilitating injury. Even then she could sneak in to the 1st round since she does have great athleticism and her upside is higher than any 2nd round draftee.

You're right about the 2nd round draft picks (and a few 1st round picks). Most of them don't stick. I did a little research, here's what I found. Going back to the 2015 draft class (KLM/Kiah Stokes' class), only two 2nd round draft picks from that class are still in the league :

2015 - Three 1st rounders are gone: Crystal Bradford (LA), Ally Mallot (Was) & Samantha Logic (Atl). The two remaining 2nd rounders: Natasha Cloud (Was) & Betnijah Laney (Conn).
2016 - 1 first rounder is gone: Adut Bulgak (NY) - No 2nd round draftees are active.
2017 - 2 first rounders are gone: Evelyn Akhator (Dal) & Tori Jankoska (Sky) - Two second rounders left: Lindsey Allen (Aces) & Erica McCall (Fever).
2018 - Five of the 12 second round draftees are still in the league: Jamie Nared, Stephanie Mavunga, JiSu Park, Myisha Hines-Allen & Mercedes Russell.

Only 9 of the 48 (18.5%) players drafted in the 2nd round the last 4 drafts have managed to hang on.

Two 3rd round players drafted since 2015 remain: Temi Fagbenle (Min) & Alexis Prince (Atl).

There are at least 12 (probably more) players in the league now, that won't be next year to make room for the incoming class of 2019, assuming all 12 first round picks make the cut. You've got to figure at least 2-3 2nd rounders will stick.

Who else is in that class that will be a big pick? Sabrina? Is Megan Walker a Jr this season?

Megan Walker will be a sophomore this season.

 

[DallasBUFan]

Ruthy Hebard
Joyner Holmes was prominent as a freshman
Destiny Slocum if she doesn’t use all her eligibility

Kaila Charles might amount to something

Ruthy could be a good prospect, Joyner too if she can play better next two seasons!

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

If you listen to her and listen to other players last year, she one of the first guards to win defensive player of the year. Which has taken all of these years to get the credit she deserves on the defensive side.

If you look at history, a guard won the DPOY award the first two years and three out of the first five (Teresa Weatherspoon won it twice, Debbie Black won it once).

WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award - Wikipedia

Beard was the first non-post player (guard, wing) to win the award since 2012.

 

[Bigboote]

I think Indiana's biggest need (of many) is a big. I think right now Brown is the more skilled player, but McCowan has the higher ceiling. I expect after next season, McCowan will have improved greatly again, so I'll go with McCowan for Indiana.

Chicago's biggest need is a 4. If Magbegor declares, I think they'll pick her. If not, maybe Brown as a backup for Dolson since Coates isn't doing much. That would leave Cheyenne Parker to play 4 exclusively.

The Liberty need forwards. They could trade a couple of guards for a true forward and select Lou, or go the single step and pick Collier. I probably won't be popular, I go for Collier in their spot.

 

[Bigboote]

McCowan is STILL going to be substantially bigger than most of the players she'll be going up against, sans Fowles/Cambage/Griner. Other players have height and strength, but not the combination that McCowan does. I think she can still score a fair amount on putbacks, she'll immediately be one of the better rebounders in the league, especially on the offensive end (she averaged a whopping 6 offensive rebounds per game this past season). She's proven herself against strong competition and on the biggest stage.

I've realized for some time that McCowan is big. But till I saw her next to Mercedes Russell, I had no idea just HOW BIG she is. Russell is, what, 6-6?, and not a skinny 6-6, but McCowan just dwarfed her. I think Cambage is the only player currently in the W that can outsize Teaira, and I'm not sure of that. I just love watching her; hoping that MsSt didn't lose too much to graduation and that Vic can work his magic.

 

[Dillon77]

I've realized for some time that McCowan is big. But till I saw her next to Mercedes Russell, I had no idea just HOW BIG she is. Russell is, what, 6-6?, and not a skinny 6-6, but McCowan just dwarfed her. I think Cambage is the only player currently in the W that can outsize Teaira, and I'm not sure of that. I just love watching her; hoping that MsSt didn't lose too much to graduation and that Vic can work his magic.

Hah! I felt the same way when Jessica Shepard was matched up against her in the championship game; not just height-wise, but in overall size. And as we know, Shep could probably play tight end in a pinch.

I hope -- and expect -- Ms. McCowan to continually develop her technical skill development. She looks eager and hungry to do so.
Good luck to her.

BTW, I also expect Ms. Shepard to show some elements of her game that she didn't last year because she basically took the low-post vacancy left by Turner's injury. Facing the basket should allow her to work on her drives and the spin moves she used effectively to get some space against McCowan.

 

[bballnut90]

Hah! I felt the same way when Jessica Shepard was matched up against her in the championship game; not just height-wise, but in overall size. And as we know, Shep could probably play tight end in a pinch.

I hope -- and expect -- Ms. McCowan to continually develop her technical skill development. She looks eager and hungry to do so.
Good look to her.

BTW, I also expect Ms. Shepard to show some elements of her game that she didn't last year because she basically took the low-post vacancy left by Turner's injury. Facing the basket should allow her to work on her drives and the spin moves she used effectively to get some space against McCowan.

I think Shepard is one of the more unique prospects we've seen in a while too. Very nimble and just a savvy player even if she doesn't possess great height or raw speed. Exceptional passing skills and can operate very well from both the high and low post. Similarities between her and McCarville with their strength, passing, rebounding and unexpected quickness. After watching this current WNBA season, I'm not sure how her game will translate where most 4s/5s are going to be 6-4 to 6-8, but I was extremely impressed with her in the tournament. She made huge improvements over the course of last season and I'm expecting she'll be even better this year.

 

[Shmermerer]

I think Shepard is one of the more unique prospects we've seen in a while too. Very nimble and just a savvy player even if she doesn't possess great height or raw speed. Exceptional passing skills and can operate very well from both the high and low post. Similarities between her and McCarville with their strength, passing, rebounding and unexpected quickness. After watching this season, I'm not sure how her game will transition to the pros where most 4s/5s are going to be 6-4 to 6-8, but I was extremely impressed with her in the tournament. She made huge improvements over the course of last season and I'm expecting she'll be even better this year.

Well she is listed at 6’4. I feel like each level they add an inch to their height. Even in the pros. Lol.

 

[j66kicker]

Well she is listed at 6’4. I feel like each level they add an inch to their height. Even in the pros. Lol.

Yeah Griner has grown from 6'7" earlier in her college career to 6'9" now. She's a giant, but hard to believe she's still growing. Phil Mickelson said practicing Taekwondo caused him go grow an inch. I'm assuming by adjusting his posture, whatever - not his bones actually "growing." I studied Taekwondo for 15 years and I felt the same way, but the tape measure never did.

 

[Bigboote]

I grew an inch some time between the ages of 20 and 55. And that includes a decade-plus of running marathons when overweight. The most bizarre I know of is the daughter of a friend. She'd been 5-2 from the time she was about 12. When she was 26 and pregnant with her second child, she grew 4 inches!!

 

[bballnut90]

Well she is listed at 6’4. I feel like each level they add an inch to their height. Even in the pros. Lol.

6-4 is pretty generous...I'm guessing she's more like 6-2. We always see players with inflated heights, some more than others.

 

[rt bb fan]

I think Indiana's biggest need (of many) is a big. I think right now Brown is the more skilled player, but McCowan has the higher ceiling. I expect after next season, McCowan will have improved greatly again, so I'll go with McCowan for Indiana.

Chicago's biggest need is a 4. If Magbegor declares, I think they'll pick her. If not, maybe Brown as a backup for Dolson since Coates isn't doing much. That would leave Cheyenne Parker to play 4 exclusively.

The Liberty need forwards. They could trade a couple of guards for a true forward and select Lou, or go the single step and pick Collier. I probably won't be popular, I go for Collier in their spot.

in my opinion Cheyenne Parker is not a true 4, but a center. Sky need a true power forward. Sky fans are not happy with Dolson, they want Parker playing center and Coates with more playing time and Stef traded.

 

[Shmermerer]

6-4 is pretty generous...I'm guessing she's more like 6-2. We always see players with inflated heights, some more than others.

I would say most players height is inflated. I do know something odd a few DePaul players coming out of high school rating services had them taller than what they were listed in college. Lol.

 

[bballnut90]

in my opinion Cheyenne Parker is not a true 4, but a center. Sky need a true power forward. Sky fans are not happy with Dolson, they want Parker playing center and Coates with more playing time and Stef traded.

Brianna Turner if healthy would actually be a good fit here IMO because she runs the floor so well and is a good defender. McCowan wouldn't be a bad option defensively. Neither her or Brown would be ideal though with the helter skelter pace that the Sky play with.

 

[Dillon77]

Well she is listed at 6’4. I feel like each level they add an inch to their height. Even in the pros. Lol.

6-4 is pretty generous...I'm guessing she's more like 6-2. We always see players with inflated heights, some more than others.

The ND Roster has her listed at 6'4", with Brianna Turner and Mik Vaughn at 6'3".
When looking at pictures, it always looked the other way around lwith Bri and Mik being slightly taller, but so much of that could be due to camera positioning, how you hold yourself, even hairstyles. In any case, I think Jessica is around that 6'3"-6'4" mark and she knows how to use it (the seals she made in the NCAA's were great).

 

[ucbart]

Jordy (and Scoop):
Brianna missed the 17-18 season due to an ACL, which is usually a season-ender for anyone (if not more).
However, before that, she was very resilient in dealing with her injuries. She had a serious shoulder injury her sophomore year. Rather than have immediate surgery, she played through it (wearing a brace), had surgery in the off-season and came back in time for her junior year, albeit with not a lot of practice time. She's a gamer.

I'm adding in some of her season highlights because its' been a year since we've seen her name in boxscores. she can play. Well. If she's makes it through this year, she's a first-round draft choice.

Hopefully, MM will able to ease her into minutes as the season progresses. Playing with her buddy, Jessica Shepard, will help, as will the return of Mik Vaughn, who interestingly both looks and plays a bit like Bri.

BTW, I noted she shared a stat with Stewey, which I found interesting given I thought of pairing them together in Seattle!

Freshman Year (2014-2015)
• Started in 35 of 36 games played, averaging 25.6 minutes
• Averaged 13.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game with 10 double-doubles, leading team in all categories except scoring and steals
• Led nation and ACC in field-goal percentage (.652), becoming the third freshman in NCAA history to lead nation in field-goal percentage

Sophomore Year (2015-2016)
• Started all 29 games played (missed six games with shoulder injury)
• Led ACC in both field-goal percentage (.593 - fifth in nation) and blocked shots (3.0 bpg - 13th in nation)
• Scored in double figures 25 times (including four 20-point games)
• One of two players to rank in the top 13 in nation in field-goal percentage and blocked shots per game (along with one Breanna Stewart)

JUNIOR SEASON (2016-17)
• Started all 35 games, averaging 28.7 minutes per game
• Had a career high 38 assists
• Was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, standing ninth in league history in blocks (263)
• Saw less than 20 minutes of action only four times
• Scored in double figures 29 times and recorded seven double-doubles

I don't like her much because of the team she plays on, for obvious reasons, but she seems like a great kid. With that being said, up to her junior year, she hadn't really developed anything outside of 3 -5 feet from the basket. That might be an issue for her in the W. She won't be able to dominate with her athleticism in the paint like she is able to do in college. If she has used the past 15 months to open her face up game against, she will do well.

Now, with that being said, watch her drop 35 on us in South Bend and have 4 3's. HA