Lynx Select Two-Time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Amber Harris with Fourth Overall Pick in the 201
Published on April 11, 2011 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL - After choosing University of Connecticut star Maya Moore with the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, the Lynx used the fourth overall pick to select Xavier University forward Amber Harris. The Lynx originally acquired the fourth overall pick from Connecticut in a 2010 draft-day trade in which Minnesota moved the third overall draft choice (Kelsey Griffin) to the Sun in exchange for 2011 first- and second-round selections. The Lynx also own the first two selections in the second round (13th and 14th overall) and the 26th overall pick (third round) in today's draft.
Harris, a 6-5 forward, enters the WNBA after spending four-plus years at Xavier, where she leaves as only the second Musketeer player in school history to surpass 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. The two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (2011, 2010), Harris is just the third player in Atlantic 10 history to appear on the All-Conference First Team four times. Harris became the first player in school history to be honored as a WBCA State Farm All-American in 2009-10. Harris ranks first on Xavier's all-time blocked shots list (361 career blocks) and scored 20+ points 37 times in her career.
Harris capped her career with a standout redshirt senior season. A 2011 Wooden Award finalist, Harris averaged a career-high 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in leading Xavier to a No. 2 seed at the NCAA Tournament. Chosen as one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Harris finished first among all conference players in blocked shots (72), second in rebounding and third in scoring.
Harris missed the entire 2008-09 season due to an injury.
An Indianapolis, Indiana, native, Harris was tabbed as the No. 1 overall prospect coming out of high school by the Blue Star Index. Harris averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds per game to go along with four blocks per contest her senior year at North Central High School, where she captured state titles in both 2004 and 2005. Honored as a First Team All-USA selection by USA Today in 2006, Harris was named "Miss Basketball" in the state of Indiana by the Indianapolis Star following the 2006 season. She also garnered McDonald's All-American and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American honors.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 11, 2011
- Lynx Add Two Local Products in Today's 2011 WNBA Draft - Minnesota Lynx
- Ta'Shia Phillips Traded to Mystics - Washington Mystics
- Atlanta Dream Acquires All-Star Guard Lindsey Harding from Washington Mystics - Atlanta Dream
- Trade for Kalana Greene Highlights Sun Draft - Connecticut Sun
- Chicago Sky Selects Courtney Vandersloot Third Overall in 2011 WNBA Draft - Chicago Sky
- Storm Selects Thomas in First Round of 2011 WNBA Draft - Seattle Storm
- Mercury Selects Brittany Spears in Second Round of the 2011 WNBA - Phoenix Mercury
- Washington Mystics Select Victoria Dunlap - Washington Mystics
- Atlanta Dream Selects Ta'shia Phillips in 2011 WNBA Draft - Atlanta Dream
- Moore, Cambage, Vandersloot Selected with Top Three Picks in 2011 WNBA Draft - WNBA
- Jantel Lavender Highlights Los Angeles Sparks' 2011 WNBA Draft - Los Angeles Sparks
- New York Liberty Selects Montgomery, Breland, Colson and Valentine in 2011 WNBA Draft - New York Liberty
- Stanford Point Guard Pohlen Highlight's Fever Draft - Indiana Fever
- Indiana Selects Jeanette Pohlen in First Round of WNBA Draft - Indiana Fever
- Lynx Select Two-Time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Amber Harris with Fourth Overall Pick in the 201 - Minnesota Lynx
- Lynx Select Three-Time Wade Trophy Winner and Four-Time All-American Maya Moore - Minnesota Lynx
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
