The WNBA draft was last Friday, and it was packed with a ton of talent. The Connecticut Sun had the 23rd, and 35th picks of the draft. At 23, the Sun took Maryland’s Kaila Charles, and with the 35th pick, they took Baylor’s, Juicy Landrum. It was shocking that Charles was still available late in the 2nd round of the draft. Both players are steals of the draft, in my opinion.
Kaila Charles Shooting Guard/Forward
Kaila Charles is coming off an All-American season at Maryland, where she averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Charles also shot 50% from the field, but she is not much of a three-point shooter. The Maryland guard only attempted ten three-point shots last season.
Charles is a versatile player and is an outstanding athlete. At Maryland, Charles was a very efficient scorer; she excelled at driving the ball to the basket and in the open court. Also, Charles has an excellent mid-range game, but it will be crucial for her to extend her range to the three-point line. It would make Charles a more versatile player for Connecticut.
Juicy Landrum Point Guard
Juicy Landrum is coming off a season where she averaged 10.8 points per game while shooting 42.3% from beyond the arch. Against Arkansas State in December, Landrum set an NCAA record by making 14 three’s. Also, in that game, she scored 42 points.
Landrum will bring perimeter shooting to Connecticut’s roster, something they need with the loss of Courtney Williams and Shekinna Stricklen. The Sun will need shooting to space the floor for Jonquel Jones and newly acquired DeWanna Bonner. Along with her shooting ability, Landrum plays a pretty good defensive game as well. It will be interesting to see if Landrum can come in and steal a roster spot; with her shooting, she should be able to make the roster.
