Draft- Coach wants..

[monarchgamespictaker]

Monarchs on mission to get help at guard

After losing several veterans, the team will go younger via today's WNBA draft.

By Debbie Arrington -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 16, 2005

Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant knows what he wants in today's WNBA draft: Guards, guards, guards.



"We should be able to get some good guards," Whisenant said Friday. "I expect there will be plenty available. We just don't know which ones."

OAS_AD('Button20');Unlike last year, when Diana Taurasi was a clear-cut No. 1 pick, this draft is wide open. The Charlotte Sting has the first overall pick. Among the names mentioned most as the potential top choice: Minnesota center Janel McCarville, Texas Christian forward Sandora Irvin, Mississippi State guard Tan White and Kansas State forward Kendra Wecker.

Coming off an 18-16 season, the Monarchs pick ninth in the first round, then have a second-round selection at No. 22 overall. They have two third-round picks at Nos. 30 and 35 overall.

Whisenant expects post players to dominate the early picks, making many quality guards available for the Monarchs. Besides 5-foot-7 White (23.5 points per game), other guards on Whisenant's wish list: Florida State's Roneeka Hodges (5-11, 19.2 points), Oklahoma's Dionnah Jackson (5-9, 14.6 points), Louisiana State's Temeka Johnson (5-3, 10.4 points), Michigan State's Kristin Haynie (5-8, 10.8 points), Penn State's Tanisha Wright (5-11, 19.3 points), Illinois' Angelina Williams (6-0, 17.8 points as a small forward), Rutgers' Chelsea Newton (5-11, 9.4 points), Louisiana Tech's Erica Taylor (5-10, 11.2 points), Stanford's Kelley Suminski (5-9, 11.2 points) and Texas' Jamie Carey (5-6, 12.2 points).

Whisenant continues to reinvigorate his roster - his players averaged an age of 28.6 years in 2004. He traded longtime Monarchs center/forward Tangela Smith to Charlotte for small forward Nicole Powell, 2004's No. 3 overall pick behind Taurasi and Alana Beard. The Monarchs also received center Olympia Scott-Richardson and forward Erin Buescher.

In addition, veteran guard Edna Campbell left the Monarchs, signing as a free agent with the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Guard Lady Grooms gave birth Wednesday to her first child, Valerie Nicole Gabrielle Grooms. At 20 inches long, the healthy baby weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Grooms will be on maternity leave until she assumes a new role as the Monarchs' East Coast scout. Her husband, Windell, is an Atlanta-area firefighter.

Grooms isn't expected to resume her playing career.

"Edna's gone, Lady's gone," Whisenant said. "That's two guards we need right there." One job might be filled. Friday, 5-11 Chinese guard Miao Lijie arrived in Sacramento to join small forward Sui Feifei. Miao, 24, led the Women's Chinese Basketball Association with 26.4 points per game.

 

[monarchgamespictaker]

So far he has kept his word and took guards.

Kristen Haynie, MSU
Chelsea Newton, Rutgers

 

[monarchgamespictaker]

Third Round
Annie O Neil, Iowa State

 

[monarchgamespictaker]

Fourth Round
Crisit Greenwalt,Center, Texas Tech

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I think I agreed with the background chatter from the commentators that Greenwalt is trade fodder. I have no recollection of O'Neil or her game.

I loved the Haynie pick, I was very very very very disappointed that Nikita Bell went off the board just before our pick in the 2nd round, but was delighted that Newton was still there. I love her, (not as much as I love Bell who for some reason I thought was a guard), and think she's another very solid pick Whiz made today.

Good work today from Whiz and his draft team today. I like what he did.

 

[HoopMatron]

So, does anyone think the Monarchs are still shopping Yo? That was a vibe I picked up during the broadcast. For a few minutes, I was thinking a Ticha + a draft pick to Houston for Sheryl Swoopes deal might be in the offing, especially when Houston when for a big in the first round. They do have a hole at point guard, and Ticha is Chancellor's type of PG -- not a scorer, but a distributor.

But when they interviewed Whisenant, he definitely made it seem that Ticha is his point guard, and that he's still trying to work a deal for Yo. Good grief! I can't think of a single player who is worth Yo in a trade (of course, Lauren Jackson for Yo would work, but that's not realistic, is it?)

It was an impressive draft for the Monarchs, I think. I wonder if they will invite Kelly Suminski to camp, since she was undrafted.

HoopMatron

 

[Rockmeister]

Why does the coach want so many guards?

 

[6th]

Why does the coach want so many guards?

I have no idea. I am thinking more and more that I don't much care for this Coach Whiz. Or is it GM Whiz that I don't like? Nah....I think it is both.

I swear, if he trades Yo and does not get someone comparable (which is close to impossible), I will quit watching the M's and stick totally with the men's game.

 

[RDub21]

Personally, I'm not so high on Haynie, maybe that's because her Michigan State team beat Stanford in the tourney. During one of the games I remember one of the announcers saying she had a problem with her intestines and that she had to consume 4000(????) plus calories a day to get enough energy. I guess it wasn't that big of a deal if she got drafted this high. We'll have to see.

I like Newton from Rutgers, not much of an outside threat, but she plays solid defense and can rebound too. Also has a nice mid-range game.

Never saw Anne O'neil play, but from her profile she shot almost 50% from 3pt range, so she might have a chance to make this team.

Saw Cisti Greenwalt play a couple of times, but again looking at the profile she is the Big 12 and Texas Tech all time leader in blocks, so she might give Chantelle a run for her money for the back up center position.

 

[cometsluv4play]

Congradulations to Coach Whiz & all the Monarchs peps! very,very strong draft for the M's. Haynie is a solid pick & good fit for Sacramento! you guys are a better team tonight.

 

[funsc]

hopefully, champ in the coming season

 

[Still JD]

So, does anyone think the Monarchs are still shopping Yo? That was a vibe I picked up during the broadcast. For a few minutes, I was thinking a Ticha + a draft pick to Houston for Sheryl Swoopes deal might be in the offing, especially when Houston when for a big in the first round. They do have a hole at point guard, and Ticha is Chancellor's type of PG -- not a scorer, but a distributor.

But when they interviewed Whisenant, he definitely made it seem that Ticha is his point guard, and that he's still trying to work a deal for Yo. Good grief! I can't think of a single player who is worth Yo in a trade (of course, Lauren Jackson for Yo would work, but that's not realistic, is it?)
HoopMatron

I figured when Dydek went to Conn., that was the end of the Yo discussion, but yesterday the Seattle times is still listing Yo as being shopped around:

"The next big-name player to switch uniforms could be Houston forward Sheryl Swoopes, but her age, pay and strong ties to the Comets' marketing scheme are making her hard to move. Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith also is on the block. "
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002243777_wnbadraft17.html


This is very disturbing, if true. It doesn't make sense to load up on guards and then get rid of your two most productive post players.

 

[Still JD]

Why does the coach want so many guards?

With Edna and Lady gone, and most likely Ruthie too, they would be three guards short right off the top. Then factor in the fact that none of their guards as averaged double digits in the last two years and the point guard won't shoot. I think Whiz is just trying to get as many guns as he can for Ticha to pass to, plus a decent back-up so he can move Kara to the #2.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I agree with JD, we needed so many guards because we don't presently have anybody in the backcourt besides Ticha, Guiliana and Kara. If he had brought in 3 forwards people would have lit him up for not addressing the guard problem this team has had since Kedra's last really good year and Edna's first year here.

Whiz seemed to make it clear that he's not done and he's still working the trade phones. I'll continue my drumbeat...if Griffith is still on the trade block there has to be a reason for it. I am more and more getting convinced of that. He has no financial incentive to move her and he has no team related need to move her. Something else has to be motivating this. At this point, I just want him to pull the trigger on something and let's get to camp and start working becoming a better scoring offense and a better defensive rebounding team. Once Washington sent Holdsclaw to LA instead of here for Yo, I expected her to come off the table. Because that was pretty much as equal value as you can expect to get. If Houston is rumored to be involved, I might consider Swoopes since Van seems equally hot to move her for whatever reason. If we get back anybody else, I'm going to consider it a deal Whiz was forced to make. As long as it involves a wing and a young center I'm cool with whatever he does.