Sky Adds Two in 2016 WNBA Draft
April 14, 2016 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release
CHICAGO - The Chicago Sky has selected center Imani Boyette from the University of Texas with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman rounded out the 2016 Draft selecting Jordan Jones from Texas A&M University (34th overall) in the third round.
"We're thrilled that Imani was still on the board for us at No. 10," Chatman said. "Everyone talks about her height, her length, her ability to affect the side of the basketball that we struggle with the most. At 6-foot-7, with that wingspan, I think she impacts the defensive end of the floor. She also runs the floor like a guard and can rebound."
Boyette, the Big 12's Co-Defensive Player of the Year, became the first Longhorn to record 1,000 career points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks in her college career. Throughout her senior season, she logged 13 double-doubles, including one performance with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a come-from-behind win over UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen. After leading the Big 12 Conference in blocked shots (2.94 bpg) and averaging 11.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, Boyette was named All-Big 12 first team and became the fourth Texas player to be drafted in the first round by the WNBA.
Boyette comes from an athletic family with Chicago roots. Her mother, Pam McGee, was the second overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft and became the first WNBA player to have a child compete in the NBA (JaVale McGee of the Dallas Mavericks). Her brother, Javale McGee, attended Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago.
"Being able to put on that jersey, being able to have my name on the back of it, being able to play out there in such a great city," said Boyette. "It's going to be fun to get there and play with that home crowd."
In the third round, the Sky added Jordan Jones, a 5-foot-6 guard from Texas A&M University. A two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Jones owns the school's single-season assist record with 261 in the 2013-14 season. She finished her senior season third all-time at Texas A&M in career assists (707), seventh all-time in steals (224) and ranked 13th in the nation in assists per game in 2015-16. A 2015 AP All-America Honorable Mention, Jones led the SEC in total assists in three consecutive seasons (2013-2016).
Boyette and Jones will join the Chicago Sky when training camp opens on April 24, 2016. For more information or to purchase tickets for the 2016 season call 866.SKY.WNBA or visit CHICAGOSKY.NET.
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