Houston Comets Select Matee Ajavon As First Round Draft Pick
April 9, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release
HOUSTON (April 9, 2008) - The Houston Comets selected Rutgers University's Matee Ajavon as the fifth pick in the first round of the 2008 WNBA Draft. In the second and third rounds, the Comets chose Louisiana State University's Erica White (17th overall) and Western Kentucky University's Crystal Kelly (31st overall), respectively.
"Overall, we're very happy with our picks today. We are excited to have Matee and know she will make an instant impact on the team," said Coach Thompson. "Matee is a great defender who is versatile enough to play various positions. Erica White is a true point guard. She's tenacious and a natural leader who will continue to grow under the tutelage of Shannon Johnson. Crystal Kelly is an athletic post player who can score, run the floor and play great defense, which we'll need as a Western Conference competitor."
A 5-8 RU guard, Ajavon finishes her collegiate career with 1,622 points to become eighth all-time scorer, and 556 assists and 275 steals for the fourth positions in both categories. Ajavon is only the second Scarlet Knight women's basketball player to earn more than 1,500 points and 500 assists. She boasts accolades that include selections to the All-Big East First Team (2006, 2007), Final Four All-Tournament Team (2007), All-Big East First Team (2005, 2006), and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2007), and Big East Freshman of the Year (2005).
White, a 5-foot-3 guard and product of Van Chancellor's LSU program, completes her senior year with averages of 6.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds. While playing at LSU, she was named to the SEC All-Academic Team and SEC All-Tournament Team in 2007 and was a member of the SEC All-Academic Freshman Team in 2005. White was also a member of the USA Basketball Under-20 gold medal team at the 2006 FIBA Americas Championships.
At 6-3, Kelly, who plays forward, leaves WKU as a Women's Basketball Coaches Association/Kodak All-American Honorable Mention (2007), Associated Press All-American (2007), All-Sun Belt Conference First Team member (2005, 2006, 2007) and as an All-Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year (2005).
The Houston Comets tip-off their 2008 home opener against the Minnesota Lynx in Reliant Arena on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. Season tickets and group tickets are available for purchase by calling 713-627-WNBA.
Individual tickets for the 2008 Houston Comets season go on sale April 10 by phone at 713-627-WNBA, at www.houstoncomets.com or Ticketmaster outlets.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 9, 2008
- Minnesota Lynx to Introduce 2008 Draft Picks at Press Conference at Target Center on Thursday - Minnesota Lynx
- Minnesota Lynx Select Center Nicky Anosike and Forward Charde Houston in the 2008 WNBA Draft - Minnesota Lynx
- Houston Comets Select Matee Ajavon As First Round Draft Pick - Houston Comets
- Mystics Select Crystal Langhorne - Washington Mystics
- Sacramento Monarchs Go Big And Tough In Draft With Selection Of Maryland Star Laura Harper - Sacramento Monarchs
- Sun Select Anderson and Ervin With Final Two Picks In 2008 WNBA Draft - Connecticut Sun
- Sun Select Holt, UConn's Swanier In First Round - Connecticut Sun
- Chicago Sky Selects Sylvia Fowles in WNBA Rookie Draft - Chicago Sky
- Liberty Selects Rutgers' Essence Carson and North Carolina's Erlana Larkins In First Round - New York Liberty
- Storm Selects Quigley and Beck in 2008 WNBA Draft - Seattle Storm
- Sparks Select Tennessee Superstar Candace Parker with No. 1 Pick in WNBA Draft - Los Angeles Sparks
- Indiana Selects NC State's Whittington - Indiana Fever
- Minnesota Lynx Select Stanford's Candice Wiggins with the Third Overall Pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft - Minnesota Lynx
- Chicago Sky Names Mitchell Assistant Coach - Chicago Sky
- First Outdoor Game in Pro Hoops History - Indiana Fever
- '08 NY Liberty Season Includes First Regular Season Outdoor Game in Professional Basketball History - New York Liberty
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