Scott Whittum WNBA Mock Draft - 14 April 2012

1. Nnemkadi Ogwumike 2. Shenise Johnson 3. Courtney Hurt 4. Glory Johnson 5. Samantha Prahalis
Round 1
1Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos AngelesNnemkadi OgwumikeSFStanford
Ogwumike should have  similar instant impact like Maya Moore had for Minnesota last season. She can score from pretty much anywhere on the floor. The big stage of Stanford should serve as great preparation for the WNBA Western Conference grind in 2012-13.
2Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesSeattle (from CHI)Shenise JohnsonSFMiami (FL)
With Lauren Jackson being out due to Olympic team commitments. Johnson will bring an explosiveness to the Storm lineup that should elevate them back into the fray as Western Conference Contenders. 
3Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from WASH)Courtney HurtSFVirginia Commonwealth
Hurt has consistently grown in her game during her VCU career.  Her explosive ability to score the basketball should allow her to compete right away for significant playing time for the Lynx.
4Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesTulsaGlory JohnsonPFTennessee
Johnson had an excellent senior season at Tennessee. Her ability to dominate the glass will be a huge help to a Shock team that needs help in all areas and shoring up the rebounding and defense will accelerate the rebuilding process.
5San Antonio Silver Stars 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesSan AntonioSamantha PrahalisPGOhio State
The Silver Stars are in a position where they need to find a successor to Becky Hammon. Prahalis has all the speed and ball handling capability to step in right away  and start that process of transitioning from Hammon to Prahalis.
6Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesPhoenixNatalie NovoselPGNotre Dame
Novosel's stock has risen greatly during her senior season. Skylar Diggins got the media attention but Novosel is the reason why Notre Dame was in the title game against Baylor.  She should fit in nicely with the Mercury's high octane style of play.
7New York Liberty 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesNew YorkShekinna StricklenSGTennessee
Stricklen was an honorable mention all-American and the leading scorer for Tennessee in 2011-12. She is very difficult to defend as she is very athletic. Stricklen could go higher depending on the strategy of teams like Seattle and Minnesota. Otherwise she would be a great fit with Cappie Pondexter and the Liberty.
8Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesWashington (from ATL)Riquna WilliamsPGMiami (FL)
This is an interesting value pick in this slot. Williams has top 5 talent but missing the NCAA tournament due to disciplinary issues for the Hurricanes is going to cause WNBA teams to ask some hard questions about Williams and her commitment at the next level.
9Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesConnecticutKhadijah RushdanGRutgers
Rushdan led the Scarlet Knights in scoring and assists. The Wade Trophy winner is an  excellent ball handler and distributor will help out the likes of Tina Charles by getting her the basketball down in the post for the Sun.
10Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesWashington (from SEA)Julie WotjaFGreen Bay
Wotja is very versatile and was a Wooden Award Finalist in 2012.  She is very deadly from the three point arc, shooting  42 percent this past season.  She will also be a great defensive presence for the Mystics.
11Indiana Fever 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesIndianaKayla StandishSF Gonzaga
Standish was rock solid for Gonzaga. She can score from anywhere on the floor, defend and is overall a rock solid talent that you need on championship contending teams like the Indiana Fever.
12Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesotaTiffany HayesSGConnecticut
Hayes is a very balanced player who can score from behind the arc as she shot 41 percent last season while leading UCONN to another final four appearance.  Her championship stock should fit right in with a good shot to battle for a roster spot with the Lynx.
Round 2
13Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos Angeles (from TUL)Tavelyn JamesSG Eastern Michigan
James is a very explosive scorer for Eastern Michigan. She should be able to compete for a roster spot as she is too explosive offensively not to be right in the mix for a spot on the rebuilding Sparks squad.
14Atlanta Dream 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesAtlanta (from WAS)Tyra WhiteSGTexas A&M
White had a tough, injury plagued senior season for the Aggies.  She is a very tough defender that would have gone higher if she had stayed healthy. A great fit for the athletic, tough minded Atlanta Dream.
15Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos Angeles (from CHI)Cierra BravardPFFlorida State
Bravard should be able to compete for a roster spot but it won't be easy with the likes of Candace Parker and Nneka Oguwmike in front of her.  But she shoots for a very high percentage from the floor and can get after it on the defensive end as she had over six rebounds per game this past season.
16Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos AngelesDevereaux PetersSFNotre Dame
Peters has now made it through two seasons without major injury. This should give scouts some sense of security regarding her long term durability in the WNBA.  She has great length that could cause a lot of problems for guards driving to the basket in the WNBA.
17Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesTulsa (from SA)Sasha GoodletCGeorgia Tech
This could be a great value pick for the Shock. Goodlet has plenty of upside to her game. She led the Yellow Jackets to the Sweet Sixteen this past season. Goodlet upped her scoring to 14.5 points per game.  This could be an intriguing pick for Tulsa.
18Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from PHO)LaSondra BarrettSFLSU
Barrett can play all five positions. Her biggest strength she would bring to Minnesota in this slot is her ability to crash the boards and step out and hit the three as she hit 39 percent from behind the arc for LSU.
19Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from NY)Lynetta KizerCMaryland
Kizer led the Terrapins to the Regional Final. She has a true post presence at the center position. Kizer served a suspension for the first three games of the season and came off the bench, so there may still be some unanswered questions regarding the center. However her potential athletically is off the charts.
20Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from ATL)Da'Shena StevensSFSt. John's
Stevens is going to have a battle on her hands to make the roster. This  could be a case of someone that could impress in the Lynx camp to set herself up for a roster spot on another WNBA squad. She is very athletic and can score from anywhere.
21Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesConnecticutJericka JenkinsPGHampton
Jenkins had over seven assists per game for Hampton. She makes up for her lack of height with her dynamic ability to score and distribute the basketball. She should compete strongly in training camp for a roster spot.
22Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesSeattleVicky BaughCTennessee
Baugh would provide some much needed depth for the Storm in the front court after trading Swin Cash and Lecoe Willingham away. Finally healthy in 2011-12, Baugh flourished on the boards and shot just under 60 percent from the field.
23Chicago Sky 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesChicago (from IND)Regina RogersCWashington
Rogers has been the poster child of perseverance at Washington. Rogers flourished in Kevin McGuff's system this season shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor. She is very agile in the post. 
24Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesPhoenix (from MIN)C'eira RickettsGPhoenix
Ricketts is an intriguing prospect for Mercury coach Cory Gaines.  She has the speed necessary to flourish in the super up-tempo Mercury offensive system.