Beat writer Q&A: What Indiana Fever fans should know about Aliyah Boston

The Indiana Fever are expected to select South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA draft on Monday.

The 6-5 Boston is universally considered a once-in-a-lifetime franchise player, who could immediately elevate the Fever. Indiana has not reached the playoffs since 2016 and is on its fifth coach since 2019.

A three-time first-team All-American, two-time Naismith defensive player of the year honoree and 2022 national player of the year, Boston averaged 14.1 points and 10.8 rebounds over her four seasons, guiding South Carolina to a 129-9 record that included three consecutive Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2022. She fueled the team's run to a 36-1 finish this past season, with the lone loss coming to Iowa in the national semifinals. Boston holds a number of school records, and announced her decision to enter the draft and forgo her extra year of eligibility (COVID) shortly after the Final Four.

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Boston's resume speaks for itself, but to learn more about the phenom, we spoke with Gamecocks beat writer Emily Adams of The Greenville News.

Dawn Staley said Boston should enter the WNBA draft. Do you agree with her assessment? And why is Boston ready to take that next step in her career?

Adams: I do, and I think Staley hit the nail on the head: Boston hit her ceiling in college basketball because of the way opposing teams were choosing to play her. The reason she often played few minutes this season, even in close games, was because she drew double, triple and even quadruple teams at the post. There’s a shot from the Georgia game where she literally had every player on the court defending her.

In the WNBA, the defensive 3-second rule prevents that kind of junk defense and will give her the opportunity to play true 1-v-1 basketball. She finished 0.2 rebounds shy of averaging a double-double even up against the defenses she faced this year, so I think she’s ready for that challenge of taking on higher-skill defenders in a more technical format.

What has impressed you most when watching Boston play?

Adams: I’ve never seen a college player with basketball IQ like Boston. In 37 games, she almost never made a bad decision or a true mistake, even on plays that resulted in turnovers or missed shots. For a post player to foul out one time — in overtime — and to average less than two turnovers per game is pretty remarkable, and it’s a testament to how smart she is.

She will always pass up a good shot if a teammate has a better one. She sees lanes and weak spots in defenses that are so difficult to process in real time. I think it’s a trait that will take some time to adjust at the WNBA level with certain rule differences and such, but it’s so unique and impactful once she gets to that comfort level.

Her size aside, what distinguishes Boston defensively?

Adams: Her footwork and athleticism. It’s so rare to see players of Boston’s size have the kind of agility and ability to 1-v-1 defend even out toward the perimeter. Her body position and technique are almost always perfect, and the fact that she’s 6-foot-5 makes it that much more impressive. She also has some speed she can turn on when she needs to, especially when she’s chasing down a block.

How did Boston adjust to the way teams defended her in the paint and the different ways they tried to take away components of her game? 

Adams: The biggest thing is that she became a much stronger passer, which was a big goal that Staley had for her coming into this season. If teams were going to pack the paint on her, her ability to find an assist or just get the ball out of a trap developed a lot. She also worked a lot on her jump shot and started hitting mid-ranges with more consistency. That kept her outside the messes that opponents tried to create in the paint, and it’s why the rebounding numbers suffered a bit while her field goal percentage went up compared to last year.

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Is there a moment that comes to mind that captures what Boston brings in terms of leadership? 

Adams: What’s cool about Boston is she’s very aware of what the team needs from a basketball perspective, but she’s also attuned to individuals and what kind of encouragement each teammate responds to.

The moment that stands out to me was in the first round game of the tournament against Norfolk State, which wasn’t really a big or close game. One of the freshman post players, Ashlyn Watkins, checked in pretty early in the game and missed two free throws and her first two field goal attempts right away. Boston came back in off the bench right after Watkins missed the second jumper, went straight to her and just kind of took her aside and talked to her for a second. Literally the next play, Watkins got an offensive rebound, missed the shot, made a steal and then got her first points on the fast break.

That’s a long story just to say Boston is one who elevates the players around her, and she’s also perfectly capable of taking over and dominating on her own. It’s a special combination that takes a particular personality to pull off.

Brea Beal is projected by ESPN as a potential Fever draft pick at No. 7. What distinguishes her game and how does it translate to the professional level? 

Adams: I could talk about this all day, because I’m so glad Beal is finally getting recognition as a high-level WNBA prospect. Beal is the most skilled 1-v-1 defender I’ve ever watched, and I don’t think any player besides Caitlin Clark was able to beat her on the dribble this season. She’s super technical in her positioning and footwork, and what makes her unique for a guard is her size. She’s 6-foot-1 and has a super broad, physical build, which helps her hang even with players that have height on her.

Defensive excellence is maybe the best skill you can have coming into the W, but Beal also grew a ton this year as an offensive threat. Her field goal percentage went from 38% in 2021-22 to 42% this season and from 24% on 3-pointers to 38%. Developing that outside shot is something teams love to see at the next level, and she’s someone who will stretch the floor on both ends.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WNBA draft: What Indiana Fever fans should know about Aliyah Boston