Strong Draft Choices To Boost Tulsa Shock
HAPPY COACH: Tulsa Shock Head Coach Fred Williams is happy with the 2015 draft choices of his team. From left are Amanda Zahui B. from Minnesota, Brianna Kiesel from Pittsburgh and Mimi Mungedi from Nevada.
GTR Newspapers photo
The Tulsa Shock has become much stronger due to its choices in the recent draft. The Shock has strengthened its inside game with the additions of Amanda Zahui B, a 6’5” center from Minnesota, and Mimi Mungedi, a 6’8” center from Nevada. Brianna Kiesel, a 5’7” guard from Pittsburgh, will help in the shooting and assist game.
Amanda Zahui B. (-ee) was drafted second overall in the Shock’s first-round selection. She became eligible for the draft by virtue of turning 22 this calendar year and deciding to forego her remaining collegiate eligibility. In just two active seasons with the Golden Gophers, the Sweden native set a team record for career blocks at 240. In the 2014-15 season, Zahui B. became the first player in the university’s history to be named to the AP All-America First Team after ranking fourth in Division 1 in both rebounds (12.9) and blocks (4.09) per game. She averaged 16.9 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game in her two seasons at Minnesota.
Brianna Kiesel (bree–uh -sull) was drafted 13th overall in the Shock’s second-round selection. She was a three-time team captain for the Panthers in her career. Kiesel ranks fifth on Pitt’s all-time scoring list with 1,938 points, fifth on the all-time assists list (433), eighth all-time in steals (198) and third all-time in career free-throw percentage (.795). The Utica, New York, native started all 122 games of her college career and was the first player in program history to have over 1,500 career points, 500 career rebounds, and 400 career assists. In her senior year, she averaged 18.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists and was named a First Team All- as selected by the coaches and the media. At Pittsburgh, she played for assistant coach Kathy McConnell-Miller, who coached at both the University of Tulsa and the Tulsa Shock.
Mimi Mungedi (mun–ee) was drafted 25th overall and was a third-round selection. She played in all 30 games during her final season with the Wolf Pack. In her senior campaign, she was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the Mountain West All-Defensive Team. She became Nevada’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 162 and set the Nevada single-season record for blocked shots with 74, including a school and Mountain West single-game record 29 boards in a game against San Jose State. Her hometown is Libreville, Gabon on the western central coast of Africa. She led the Mountain West in the 2014-15 season for rebounds per game (9.5), field goal percentage (55.4) and double-doubles (12) and was ranked 12th in the nation in field goal percentage (55.4).
The Shock opening game is Saturday, June 6 against Chicago. Tulsa is in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, San Antonio Stars and Seattle Storm. The Eastern Conference includes the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.
Every spring, the Draft is held at headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. For the top four picks, a selection process similar to the Draft Lottery is conducted for the four teams that did not qualify for the playoffs. The draft is currently three rounds long with each of the 12 teams in the league getting three picks each. Draft order for teams that made the playoffs the previous year are based on team records.
Updated 04-25-2015
READER COMMENTS
