Lady Bears Trio Expected to Go in Thursday's WNBA Draft
4/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation
In the 20-year history of the WNBA, Baylor's never had more than two players taken in a particular year's draft.
That could change Thursday, when this year's draft begins at 6 p.m. CDT at Samsung 837 in New York, with ESPN2 broadcasting the first round and coverage switching to ESPNU for the second and third rounds.
Redshirt senior guard Alexis Jones was one of 10 players invited to attend the draft in person, while 6-2 guard Alexis Prince and 5-11 forward Nina Davis are also projected to be among the 36 players selected.
"It's pretty much what you wanted, what you dreamed of all your life," said Davis, a two-time consensus All-American who averaged 13.0 points and 5.6 rebounds as a senior. "It's what you started playing basketball for when I was about 4 or 5 years old. The opportunity's here, and I'm ready to see what happens."
Most of the mock drafts have both Jones and Prince projected to go at some point in the first round. The 5-9 Jones is expected to play either the point or off guard at the next level after averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range as a senior. She was a two-time second-team All-ACC selection at Duke and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors each of the last two seasons at Baylor.
"I think Alexis Jones is ready for the WNBA," San Antonio Stars coach Vicky Johnson said. "Her ability to score the basketball and also play the point guard position is very important in the WNBA, with her ability to create her own shot and create for her teammates. I think she'll be a great pro. I would say it will take her a year or two to understand the WNBA and the speed of the game, but I think she'll do fine."
While there might be some concern with her injury history, including surgeries on both knees, the Irving, Texas, native said, "Everything is fine with my knees."
"I've been working out really hard this past week," she said. "I'm excited for this draft, just like everybody else. I'm just excited to be at this next level, and I'm just blessed to have this opportunity."
Jones might not have to go too far. Although she's been projected to go as high as the seventh overall pick to the Atlanta Dream, multiple sites have her pegged to go with the 10th pick to the Dallas Wings.
"It would be great for my fans, my family, my friends, just for the opportunity to stay close and play in that area ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" I'm glad there's a team in Dallas," she said. "If I did get picked (by Dallas), it would give my dad the opportunity, my mom, just right here at home. So, I would just feel right at home, and I wouldn't have any problem."
Davis, who will also graduate next month, said it's fun and nerve-wracking at the same time not to know where you're headed next.
"It's crazy to think that (the WNBA Draft) is this week and then the week after that I'll be in a new city," said Davis, who's projected by at least one site to go with the 10th pick to Dallas. "You have no idea. You're not in control of your life or your destiny. So, it's fun, but it's definitely kind of nerve-wracking at the same time."
Hearing some of the concerns about whether her somewhat unorthodox game will translate to the next level, Davis said she feels like "I'm living my life through a re-run."
"People are still suspect, even after everything I proved in college," she said. "Coming out of high school, a lot of people said I wouldn't make it in college, let alone a top school like Baylor. So, I just feel like I'm coming out of high school all over again. A lot of people don't understand my game until they see it in person. Once I get there and they see the way I play and how hard I work, I think I'll be fine."
Growing up, Davis said her favorite team was the Los Angeles Sparks. Now, the 2016 WNBA champions are a "legit dream team" after trading for former Baylor All-American guard Odyssey Sims.
"They're the champs, so I know they probably don't need me," Davis said of the Sparks, who have the 11th and 35th picks overall. "But, that was just my dream team. . . . With Odyssey Sims, (Nneka) Ogwumike, Candace Parker, they're definitely loaded. Even though I'm going to be playing with those guys now, it's going to be sort of like the 'Like Mike' movie. I might ask them for autographs."
Coming into her redshirt senior season, Prince might have been the least likely draft prospect because of her injury history. She had stress fracture surgeries on both feet and then had scope surgery to repair torn lateral meniscus in her knee during the 2015-16 season.
Finally healthy, the Orlando, Fla., native turned in her best season by far, averaging 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 41.6 percent from 3-point range. She also added 32 blocks and 23 steals, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors and a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
"I wouldn't say I had doubts," Prince said. "It was harder for me to get back to where I wanted to be. You think about whether it's going to happen for you. But, to have a great senior like I have, I feel like proved how I can play when I'm healthy Hopefully, other people can see that as well."
Like Davis, Prince sought out Sims when her former teammate came back for last week's Lady Bear Appreciation Banquet.
"She was just here for the banquet, so it was a good opportunity for me just to ask her anything I wanted," Prince said, "because I know she's been overseas and she's one of the top players in the WNBA. So, I know she could help me out with anything."
The Lady Bears have had at least one player taken in nine of the last 15 WNBA Drafts, including a program-high two each in 2002 (Sheila Lambert and Danielle Crockrom) and 2013 (Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims). Point guard Niya Johnson was the lone Baylor player selected last year, taken in the third round by the Atlanta Dream with the 28th pick overall.
"It's not as big as the NBA, of course, but it's our dream," Davis said. "it's something that means a lot to us. You can say that all the hard work you've put in, you were able to reach the highest level that they have provided for us."
