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Jackson High School graduate Taylor Mikesell among 15 prospects invited to 2023 WNBA Draft

the repository
·3 min read
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Jackson High School graduate Taylor Mikesell, who recently wrapped up her college basketball career at Ohio State, has been invited to attend the 2023 WNBA Draft on Monday, April 10 in New York.

With her quick release, Mikesell was one of college basketball's top shooters in the nation while starring at Ohio State, Oregon and Maryland in her career. She spent her final two years at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes reach a pair of NCAA Tournaments.

Mikesell ended her college career with one of her finest performances, scoring 25 points and matching her career high with seven 3-pointers in an 84-74 regional final loss to Virginia Tech. The seven 3s are the most ever made by a Buckeye in an NCAA Tournament game.

Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell shoots over Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley and guard Cayla King (22) in the second half of an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Monday, March 27, 2023.
Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell shoots over Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley and guard Cayla King (22) in the second half of an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Mikesell honed her shooting skills growing up in Stark County and setting records at Jackson High School. She is hoping to become the second straight Stark County standout to be selected in the WNBA Draft. A year ago, former Federal League-rival Kierstan Bell of McKinley was a first-round pick of the Las Vegas Aces, who went on to win the 2022 league title.

Bell and Mikesell are ranked one and two, respectively, all-time on the county's all-time girls high school basketball scoring list. Mikesell graduated from Jackson with the record before Bell broke it the following season. Mikesell, who scored a county-record 60 points with 14 3-pointers in her final regular-season home game, scored 2,175 career points at Jackson.

Jackson senior Taylor Mikesell enjoys her record-setting game with teammates, Feb. 10, 2018. Mikesell surpassed 2,000 career points in the first half, hit a school-record 14 3-point shots, became the Stark County all-time girls scoring leader when she passed 2,032 points on her way to a county-record 60-point game.
Jackson senior Taylor Mikesell enjoys her record-setting game with teammates, Feb. 10, 2018. Mikesell surpassed 2,000 career points in the first half, hit a school-record 14 3-point shots, became the Stark County all-time girls scoring leader when she passed 2,032 points on her way to a county-record 60-point game.

Five years later, Mikesell is among 15 prospects invited, including South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston and Villanova forward Maddy Siegrist, to the 2023 WNBA Draft.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the first-round draft picks live on ESPN, with exclusive coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The draft takes place at the Spring Studios, located in the Tribeca section of New York.

Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell speaks during an NCAA Tournament press conference at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, March 24, 2023, in Seattle.
Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell speaks during an NCAA Tournament press conference at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, March 24, 2023, in Seattle.

Mikesell, a 5-foot-11 guard, capped her five-year college career with two seasons at Ohio State, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021-22 and 2022-23. She ranked in the top five in the nation in 3-pointers made per game both seasons.

Mikesell averaged 17.2 points per game this past season, as Ohio State reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years. Mikesell was a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as the nation’s best shooting guard in 2021-22 and a semifinalist in 2022-23.

Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell (24) reacts to being fouled on a basket with Rikki Harris in the second half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Columbus.
Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell (24) reacts to being fouled on a basket with Rikki Harris in the second half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Columbus.

The other prospects who will be in attendance are forward Laeticia Amihere (South Carolina), guard Brea Beal (South Carolina), guard Grace Berger (Indiana), guard Zia Cooke (South Carolina), guard Jordan Horston (Tennessee), guard/forward Ashley Joens (Iowa State), guard/forward Haley Jones (Stanford), forward Dorka Juhász (Connecticut), guard/forward Lou Lopez Sénéchal (Connecticut), guard Diamond Miller (Maryland), guard Alexis Morris (LSU), and forward/center Stephanie Soares (Iowa State).

The Indiana Fever hold the top pick in the draft by virtue of winning the WNBA Draft Lottery last November. Indiana, which also owns the No. 7 selection in the first round, last year became the first team in WNBA history to make four picks in the first round. The Minnesota Lynx will select second. The Dallas Wings have the third selection, followed by the Washington Mystics at No. 4.

The formal tip-off of the draft night festivities will take place when the invited prospects showcase their personalities and unique fashion styles on the WNBA’s Orange Carpet. Earlier Monday, the prospects will visit the famed Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the draft.

Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell takes a shot over UConn forward Aubrey Griffin during the second half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday, March 25, 2023. OSU won 73-61.
Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell takes a shot over UConn forward Aubrey Griffin during the second half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday, March 25, 2023. OSU won 73-61.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Taylor Mikesell among 15 prospects invited to 2023 WNBA Draft