Where Dawn Staley, mock drafts see Gamecock seniors getting picked in WNBA draft
On the final day of 2019, the Associated Press released a WNBA mock draft based on a survey of the league’s coaches and general managers. South Carolina women’s basketball seniors Tyasha Harris and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan didn’t appear until the second round, at No. 15 and 23, respectively.
Things have changed a lot since then.
With the draft less than a week away, now happening virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Gamecock veterans have charged up draft boards. In five mock drafts released recently, Harris went as high as No. 5 overall and was in the first round of them all, while Herbert Harrigan was as high as No. 10 and dipped no lower than No. 15.
Neither player finished their collegiate careers like they wanted, as the pandemic forced the cancellation of the NCAA tournament and prevented No. 1 South Carolina from having a chance to win a national title. And despite some discussion of it, the NCAA voted not to give a year of eligibility back to winter sport athletes, precluding the possibility that Harris and Herbert Harrigan might return for one more run at a championship.
But coach Dawn Staley said both of her leaders have moved forward from the sting of that ending.
“They’re resilient, so they’ve moved on to the next phase of their lives, which they’re supposed to, and getting ready for the WNBA draft,” Staley said.
“I do believe that Ty will be drafted, just from the talks of different WNBA coaches and general managers -- Ty is anywhere from four to eight, projected. Kiki’s stock is rising, is rising as we get closer to the draft, and some of them have her in the first round. So I’m hoping all that is true for both of them, because they deserve it, not because I coached them but because of their body of work and what they were able to do within the four-year career they had here at South Carolina.”
Both players finished their careers with their best season at USC.
Harris scored a career-high 12.0 points per game, in addition to an SEC-best 5.7 assists per contest. She also averaged 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game and shot 38.4% from 3 en route to earning All-American honors from every major organization that recognizes a team.
Herbert Harrigan was named All-SEC after putting up career-best numbers in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game, as well as field goal and 3-point percentage. She was named the SEC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and led the Gamecocks in scoring on the season.
WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith sang the praises of both players in a recent Instagram Live interview with analyst LaChina Robinson.
“Not enough people are talking about Ty Harris, but I think she has it up here,” Smith said, pointing to her brain. “And as a point guard in the WNBA, you have to have it up here, because think about the point guards in our league. They’re very cerebral. ...
“Kiki Herbert Harrigan though, she’s tough. I just like her demeanor. You can’t be scared. You can’t be scared, so if she can make a pick and pop shot, if she can rebound, if she can defend one through four … she can immediately come in, I think she should be All-Rookie team, for sure.”
Harris and Herbert Harrigan are hoping to join seven other former Gamecocks in being selected in the first round of the draft. Five of those picks have come under Staley and are still in the league — A’ja Wilson, Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis, Alaina Coates and Tiffany Mitchell.
When is the WNBA Draft?
The WNBA Draft is 7 pm Friday on ESPN. According to the WNBA: “In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WNBA will conduct a virtual draft without players, guests, and media. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET, and top prospects will take part remotely. The draft will also be available on the ESPN app.”
Gamecocks in WNBA Mock Drafts
SB Nation — Harris at No. 7 to the Dallas Wings, Herbert Harrigan at No. 12 to the Washington Mystics
Swish Appeal — Harris at No. 11 to the Seattle Storm, Herbert Harrigan at No. 15 to the Dallas Wings
ESPN — Harris at No. 5 to the Dallas Wings, Herbert Harrigan at No. 13 to the New York Liberty
CBS Sports — Harris at No. 6 to the Minnesota Lynx, Herbert Harrigan at No. 12 to the Washington Mystics
High Post Hoops — Harris at No. 6 to the Minnesota Lynx, Herbert Harrigan at No. 10 to the Phoenix Mercury
