WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks draft three California locals

Published on April 5, 2006 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


EL SEGUNDO, CA- Los Angeles Sparks President Johnny Buss and General Manager Penny Toler announced today the selection of Lisa Willis with the fifth pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft. Willnett Crockett and Tiffany Porter-Talbert were also selected in the second (22nd overall) and third (36th) rounds, respectively. Willis and Crockett will reunite with the Sparks after having played together at Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California.

Selected fifth overall by the Sparks, Willis averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and totaled 115 steals during her senior year as a Bruin. The 5-11 UCLA guard has received AP All-American honorable mention (2006), All Pac-10 first team (2006, 2005), and was a finalist for the Kodak/WBCA All-America team (2006). With a record 19 steals and 11 three-point shots in the Pac-10 Tournament, Willis earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honors. She is the Pac-10's all-time leader in steals (372), ranks second in three-point field goals (256), and has recorded 100 or more steals in three seasons (2006, 2005, 2004). With 1,677 career points, Willis is UCLA's ninth all-time leading scorer.

"It is a privilege to even be in the WNBA but to be at home where I grew up and to have my family and my support system too is a blessing. Playing for the Sparks is just a dream come true" Willis said.

General Manager Penny Toler added, "The Sparks are happy to acquire Lisa Willis. We had the luxury of watching her development over four years and we think she is a sensational player. We look forward to watching Lisa become a star while wearing a Sparks uniform."

Crockett, the 6-2 forward/center from the University of Connecticut averaged 3.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and recorded 36 steals in 37 games played this season. At Narbonne High School, she earned WBCA and McDonald's All-American honors and was a Third Team All-USA TODAY honoree.

Porter-Talbert, the 5-7 guard raised in Manhattan Beach, averaged 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 32 games played at Western Kentucky University. Porter-Talbert was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team (2006, 2005, 2004), All-Sun Belt Conference Tournament team (2005, 2004, 2003) and also earned the title of 2005 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

The Sparks will ignite their 10th Anniversary Season in Seattle on May 21st against the Storm. The team will host the Detroit Fever on June 7th with their home opener at STAPLES Center. Tickets are available at the STAPLES Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations or by visiting the Sparks website at www.lasparks.com.

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