A Brief Look at the History of the National Pro Fastpitch College Draft

April 14, 2016 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) News Release

Nashville, TN - The 2016 National Pro Fastpitch College Draft presented by Bownet, will be the 13th draft conducted by the league that began in 2004. Throughout that time, 283 college players from 78 different colleges and universities have been drafted into the league.

Draftees are predominantly chosen from the NCAA Division I ranks to the tune of over ninety-nine percent. Only twice in the history of NPF Drafts have draftees been named from anywhere other than a Division I program. However, this year's draft certainly seems to have at least a few non-Division I prospects.

Among the 78 different colleges and universities, schools who have the distinction of having the most players drafted are Oklahoma, Tennessee, UCLA, California and Washington. Oklahoma stands alone in the lead with 16 total draftees to date. UCLA and Tennessee share second place with 12 each, followed closely by California and Washington who have both had 10.

Twenty-five of the 78 separate institutions have had only one player drafted. The 2016 Draft appears to have more than a dozen draftees in consideration that hail from schools who have not previously had an NPF Draftee.

Of the intercollegiate conferences that exist in college softball, only the Southeastern Conference can boast at least one draftee from every participating institution.

The 12 players drafted #1 overall, have come from eight different schools. Three schools, Alabama, Arizona State, and LSU have had multiple #1 selections. Arizona State owns bragging rights with a total of three #1 picks - Katie Burkhart (2008), Katie Cochran (2009), and Dallas Escobedo (2014). Alabama's Charlotte Morgan and Kelsi Dunne snagged back-to-back #1's in 2010 and 2011 respectively, before the LSU duo of Brittany Mack and Rachele Fico did the same in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The SEC leads #1's as a conference with six total. In addition, the SEC holds the distinction of being home to the NPF's first ever draft selection, which was Mississippi State's Iyhia McMichael in 2004. Although no #1 overall selection has ever been voted Rookie of the Year, McMichael was Player of the Year in 2004.

Much social media buzz along with results of mock drafts show that NPF fans believe a new school and perhaps a new conference will join the elite list of #1 draft picks. That decision, however, ultimately rests with the PA Rebellion, who own the first pick of the 2016 NPF College Draft.

The 2016 Draft is slated for a total of 40 selections, divided up with Akron, PA, USSSA, and Scrap Yard Dawgs each with eight and Chicago and Dallas with only four each. Overall order is based on team finish positions in the overall standings of the previous year. Trades can also affect the order and total number of available picks. Scrap Yard Dawgs were awarded 10 original college draft selections along with five selections from an expansion draft held at the end of 2015.

The complete draft order can be found below. The NPF 2016 College Draft presented by Bownet will be broadcast live, in its entirety, on CBS Sports Network, beginning at 8:00 pm ET Thursday April 14. Fans can also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up to the moment selections.

2016 NPF College Draft Presented by BOWNET

FIRST ROUND

1. Pennsylvania Rebellion

2. USSSA Pride (Trade with Dallas Charge - 3/17/2015)

3. Akron Racers

4. Akron Racers (Trade with Chicago Bandits - 11/18/2016)

5. USSSA Pride

6. Scrap Yard Dawgs

SECOND ROUND

7. Scrap Yard Dawgs

8. Pennsylvania Rebellion

9. Dallas Charge

10. Akron Racers

11. Chicago Bandits

12. USSSA Pride

THIRD ROUND

13. USSSA Pride (Trade with Scrap Yard Dawgs - 4/7/2016)

14. Pennsylvania Rebellion

15. Dallas Charge

16. Pennsylvania Rebellion (Trade with Akron Racers - 1/27/2015)

17. Chicago Bandits

18. USSSA Pride

19. Scrap Yard Dawgs

FOURTH ROUND

20. Akron Racers (Trade with Scrap Yard Dawgs - 1/17/2016)

21. Pennsylvania Rebellion

22. Chicago Bandits (Trade with Dallas Charge - 2/4/2015)

23. Akron Racers

24. Chicago Bandits

25. USSSA Pride

26. Scrap Yard Dawgs

FIFTH ROUND

27. Scrap Yard Dawgs

28. Pennsylvania Rebellion

29. Dallas Charge

30. Akron Racers

31. Akron Racers (Trade with Chicago Bandits - 11/18/2016)

32. USSSA Pride

33. Scrap Yard Dawgs

SIXTH ROUND

34. Scrap Yard Dawgs

35. Pennsylvania Rebellion

36. Pennsylvania Rebellion (Trade with Dallas Charge - 6/11/2015)

37. Akron Racers

38. Dallas Charge (Trade with Chicago Bandits - 2/6/2016)

39. USSSA Pride

40. Scrap Yard Dawgs

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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from April 14, 2016

• Goody's Corner: 2016 NPF Draft Is Here - USSSA Pride
• A Brief Look at the History of the National Pro Fastpitch College Draft - NPF
• Brandee McArthur Named Impact Honoree - Akron Racers

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