WNBA common supervisor deems potential lottery prospect a “dawg” forward of draft

Aneesah Morrow was girls’s faculty basketball’s high rebounder this previous season — and completed her collegiate profession as an all-time rebounder.

In her senior yr season at LSU, she averaged 18.8 factors and 13.7 rebounds per recreation, taking pictures 49.4% from the sphere.

The Athletic and Tankathon at present undertaking that Morrow can be chosen seventh general by the Connecticut Solar. Yahoo Sports activities has the rebounding machine slotted fifth general to be taken by the Golden State Valkyries.

These are increased projections than earlier than the NCAA match — partially as a result of a number of high prospects, most notably Olivia Miles, have opted to forego the draft, and partially as a result of Morrow had a number of standout performances in March. (Morrow racked up 26 factors and 11 rebounds in a Spherical of 32 win over FSU, and posted 30 factors, 19 rebounds, 3 steals, and a couple of blocks).

There’s no assure that Morrow can be drafted by the Solar or the Valkyries; additionally in her projected vary are the Washington Mystics (No. 3, 4, and 6 choose) and Los Angeles Sparks (No. 9). However, it’s clear groups suppose extremely of her forward of the draft.

Curt Miller calls Aneesah Morrow a “dawg” forward of WNBA Draft

Dallas Wings common supervisor Curt Miller spoke glowingly about Morrow in a pre-draft media availability on Thursday afternoon.

“Whichever franchise is lucky to finish up together with her is getting a extremely gifted participant,” Miller mentioned. “Firstly, I personally, in my decade on this league, suppose that rebounding has translated, and gamers that rebounded in faculty ended up rebounding within the execs. And so one of many issues that you’ve got that simply pops off the chart [is] when she leads the nation in rebounding.”

The Wings have the No. 1 and No. 2 picks within the WNBA draft, so that they’re unlikely to pick out Morrow based mostly on present projections.

Nonetheless, Miller is among the most veteran individuals within the WNBA, having beforehand coached each the Connecticut Solar and Los Angeles Sparks earlier than taking the final supervisor function in Dallas. And, he’s inspired however the truth that Morrow is the third all-time main rebounder in NCAA Division I girls’s basketball historical past.

“She’s undersized, so it talks about tenacity, it talks about want,” Miller mentioned. “Rebounding is an enormous hustle statistic.”

Whether or not Morrow lands in Connecticut, Golden State, Washington, or elsewhere, Miller is assured she’ll be an important value-add and tradition setter.

“All of us wish to add dawgs to our locker room,” Miller mentioned. “I believe all of us imagine that she’ll be a dawg within the locker room.”