April 07, 2008
Texas A&M?â„¢s Morenike Atunrase is among 20 top women?â„¢s basketball prospects from around the world who have been invited to attend the 2008 WNBA Draft presented by adidas on Wednesday, April 9 at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.
The 2008 WNBA Draft will cap off a week-long celebration of events surrounding the 2008 NCAA Women?â„¢s Final Four in nearby Tampa. Expected to be the deepest class in league history, the draft will begin at noon (CT). ESPN2 will provide exclusive first-round coverage of the 2008 WNBA Draft with continued coverage of the second and third rounds on both ESPNU and NBA TV. WNBA.com will serve as the premier destination for complete analysis and comprehensive coverage throughout all three rounds.
Atunrase, a 5-foot-10 combination guard/forward from Shreveport, La., finished out her illustrious four-year career at A&M as the school?â„¢s all-time leading shot blocker with 176 career blocks which ranks sixth all-time in the Big 12 Conference record books. The 2008 Big 12 Sixth Man Award recipient came off the bench and averaged 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game for the nationally-ranked Aggies who advanced to their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance this past season. Atunrase ranks sixth all-time in career scoring (1,317), eighth all-time in career field goals made (462), sixth all-time in career three-pointers made (110) and seventh all-time in career steals (199). She was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2005 and an All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2006 as a sophomore.
The list of players invited to the draft include the best of the best in all of women?â„¢s college basketball ?- Rutgers?â„¢ Matee Ajavon, Tennessee?â„¢s Nicky Anosike, Rutgers?â„¢ Essence Carson, LSU?â„¢s Sylvia Fowles, Tennessee?â„¢s Alexis Hornbuckle, Connecticut?â„¢s Charde Houston, Georgia?â„¢s Tasha Humphrey, Maryland?â„¢s Crystal Langhorne, North Carolina?â„¢s Erlana Larkins, Tennessee?â„¢s Candace Parker and Stanford?â„¢s Candice Wiggins.
Texas A&M?â„¢s A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin is also listed as a potential WNBA Draft pick on www.wnba.com. The 5-foot-3 guard from Tyler, Texas, closed out her four-year career as a 2008 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection for the second year in row and a member of the all-tournament teams for the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional and Big 12 Tournament. The 2008 All-Big 12 Second Team honoree ranks third all-time in school history with 627 career assists which ranks fifth-best in the Big 12 record books. She also ranks 12th all-time in career scoring (1,115), second all-time in career three-pointers made (157), sixth all-time in career steals (209) and led the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio for four-straight seasons.
Historically, the Aggies have had two players drafted into the WNBA in the 34-year existence of the women?â„¢s basketball program at A&M. Former player Jaynetta Saunders (1999-01) was selected 27th overall by the Cleveland Rockers in the second round of the 2001 WNBA Draft, while former player Toccara Williams (2000-04) was selected 34th overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the third round of the 2004 WNBA Draft.
Comprised of 14 teams and entering its 12th season, the WNBA is the longest-running and most successful women?â„¢s professional team sports league in America. The 2008 season tips off on May 17.