Without a doubt, the Atlantic Coast Conference has become the toughest league in women's college basketball. This year as many as 6 teams have been ranked in the top 25 and night after night the battles in the ACC are as fierce as March Madness. 2006 was a record year for the ACC; seven teams made it to the tournament, with Duke, Maryland & UNC reaching the final four, the first time three teams from the same conference have accomplished that feat! Maryland went on to win the National Championship joining UNC as the only teams in the conference to win a title. Duke has tried 4 times, UVA 3 and NC State once. The tough competition is producing some of the best players in the game and here at Inside Women's Basketball we have taken a look at the 2009 class in the ACC and shed some light on who we think will have a bright future in the WNBA. Hands down, Kristi Toliver of Maryland is the best point guard in the ACC and the country. We project she could go as early as the third pick in the draft to the Chicago Sky who need a true point guard. What we like most about Kristi is her ability to create space between between her and the defender to get an open shot. She is a proven clutch shooter; this year she hit a buzzer beater to defeat FSU, and is legendary for "The Shot" she took over 6'7" Alison Bales to defeat Duke and advance to the 2006 National Championship game. She is a skillful passer who knows how to get her team mates involved, she broke the ACC's 30 year old single season assist record. Kristi is mentally tough, a proven leader and will step right in and be a star at the next level. Shyala Fields of NC State is a likely third round draft pick. Her strength is her scoring ability. She is the second leading scorer in the ACC with 17.6 points per game. Fields is a gritty get it done type of player who is used to playing all 40 minutes of a game. She needs to improve defensively, but will be a solid addition to any WNBA roster. Chante Black of Duke is a true early first round pick at center, once Oklahoma's Courtney Paris is out of the mix, Black may be the highest ACC pick in the draft. At 6'5" she is a tremendous shot blocker and a real menis on defense. Black leads the Blue Devils in 12 of 22 statistical categories and is a regular double double threat. She has exceptional footwork and knows how to finish after the hit, or when double teamed. Virginia's Aisha Mohammed is a potential second round WNBA draft pick. The 6'3" bruiser from Nigeria is a true one two scoring and rebounding punch. She has the highest offensive rebound average in the ACC with 4 per game and leads the ACC with 9.3 rebounds a game despite the fact she had to sit out for 4 games after having arthroscopic surgery over christmas break. The former junior college All-American has had 10 double double's this season, because of her size and strength she is able to work with her back to the basket and score with ease. Next to Angel McCoughtry of Louisville, Marissa Coleman of Maryland is the best first round pick for the small forward position. Coleman is an all out hustler who can handle the ball, shoot from outside and is a physical player in the post. Her solid all around game is backed up by the fact that she is just the 3rd player in ACC history to amass 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 blocks. Coleman's over all size and athleticism make her difficult to defend, meanwhile she is a tenacious defender in the paint. Lyndra Littles of Virginia is a very athletic, proven scorer averaging 20 points a game for the Cavaliers. In the open floor she is fast and handles the ball very well. In the paint she is physical with above footwork. Another plus for Littles is her 80% average from the free throw line. Expect her to go late in the first round. Rashanda McCants of North Carolina is a well rounded athlete, but due to the many options at forward, she will likely go in the second round. We like her speed in transition and , she has a nice low block jumper and is a real threat from the three point line... in fact she will need to shoot more threes to survive in the WNBA. McCants has great leaping ability and is very scrappy when going after loose balls. She is long and lean so many defenders in the paint can't stop her. On the block she is more about speed and finesse than banging bodies.
Without a doubt, the Atlantic Coast Conference has become the toughest league in women's college basketball. This year as many as 6 teams have been ranked in the top 25 and night after night the battles in the ACC are as fierce as March Madness. 2006 was a record year for the ACC; seven teams made it to the tournament, with Duke, Maryland & UNC reaching the final four, the first time three teams from the same conference have accomplished that feat! Maryland went on to win the National Championship joining UNC as the only teams in the conference to win a title. Duke has tried 4 times, UVA 3 and NC State once. The tough competition is producing some of the best players in the game and here at Inside Women's Basketball we have taken a look at the 2009 class in the ACC and shed some light on who we think will have a bright future in the WNBA. Hands down, Kristi Toliver of Maryland is the best point guard in the ACC and the country. We project she could go as early as the third pick in the draft to the Chicago Sky who need a true point guard. What we like most about Kristi is her ability to create space between between her and the defender to get an open shot. She is a proven clutch shooter; this year she hit a buzzer beater to defeat FSU, and is legendary for "The Shot" she took over 6'7" Alison Bales to defeat Duke and advance to the 2006 National Championship game. She is a skillful passer who knows how to get her team mates involved, she broke the ACC's 30 year old single season assist record. Kristi is mentally tough, a proven leader and will step right in and be a star at the next level. Shyala Fields of NC State is a likely third round draft pick. Her strength is her scoring ability. She is the second leading scorer in the ACC with 17.6 points per game. Fields is a gritty get it done type of player who is used to playing all 40 minutes of a game. She needs to improve defensively, but will be a solid addition to any WNBA roster. Chante Black of Duke is a true early first round pick at center, once Oklahoma's Courtney Paris is out of the mix, Black may be the highest ACC pick in the draft. At 6'5" she is a tremendous shot blocker and a real menis on defense. Black leads the Blue Devils in 12 of 22 statistical categories and is a regular double double threat. She has exceptional footwork and knows how to finish after the hit, or when double teamed. Virginia's Aisha Mohammed is a potential second round WNBA draft pick. The 6'3" bruiser from Nigeria is a true one two scoring and rebounding punch. She has the highest offensive rebound average in the ACC with 4 per game and leads the ACC with 9.3 rebounds a game despite the fact she had to sit out for 4 games after having arthroscopic surgery over christmas break. The former junior college All-American has had 10 double double's this season, because of her size and strength she is able to work with her back to the basket and score with ease. Next to Angel McCoughtry of Louisville, Marissa Coleman of Maryland is the best first round pick for the small forward position. Coleman is an all out hustler who can handle the ball, shoot from outside and is a physical player in the post. Her solid all around game is backed up by the fact that she is just the 3rd player in ACC history to amass 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 blocks. Coleman's over all size and athleticism make her difficult to defend, meanwhile she is a tenacious defender in the paint. Lyndra Littles of Virginia is a very athletic, proven scorer averaging 20 points a game for the Cavaliers. In the open floor she is fast and handles the ball very well. In the paint she is physical with above footwork. Another plus for Littles is her 80% average from the free throw line. Expect her to go late in the first round. Rashanda McCants of North Carolina is a well rounded athlete, but due to the many options at forward, she will likely go in the second round. We like her speed in transition and , she has a nice low block jumper and is a real threat from the three point line... in fact she will need to shoot more threes to survive in the WNBA. McCants has great leaping ability and is very scrappy when going after loose balls. She is long and lean so many defenders in the paint can't stop her. On the block she is more about speed and finesse than banging bodies.