If it's your first time seeing Auburn, then I don't expect you to have a favorable impression of Bonner. She's looked much better for most of the season. That said, she, like many of the projected first-round picks in this year's draft, has benefitted greatly from not having to compete with the Class of 2008 prospects. I think it's safe to say that Bonner would not have won SEC POY if one of Parker (Tennessee), Fowles (LSU), or Humphrey (UGA) was still in school this year.
The appeal on Bonner is that she's considered to be a 6'4 guard. Mind you, she doesn't really have any guard skills, so perhaps that's a nice way of saying that she's a 6'4 player who can't play inside. From what I've seen, her positives outweigh her negatives. She is a better defender than she showed last night and Vanderbilt is a better team than people are willing to admit.
As for her being torn apart by guards and forwards alike in this league, keep in mind that there are some so-called "elite" guards who will be taken apart by said guards and forwards--and none of them are 6'4. Sometimes, it's better to stick with the adage that height cannot be taught.
As for Wirth and Risper, they're very good players who stepped up their games at the right time. However, they're not elite prospects. I've seen games (Georgia) where both looked like high school players and others where they looked like world beaters. They may both get drafted, but neither is going to make a team. That's not to say they shouldn't, but you have to know how politics work in this league.
I'm not a Wirth fan, but I'd love to give Risper a look. Any player who takes as much pride in her defense while working on her offensive game deserves at least a shot.
) Without a doubt she would be a lottery pick if this performance was consistent, however I don't even remember her at all in her other televised games this season. Maybe with her substandard season so far and a drop in people's expectations, she has less pressure to perform and can just play without thinking about it.
