Monday, April 30, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Senior forward excited to play in WNBA
Kansas senior for-
ward Jaclyn Johnson puts up an off-balance shot for two as Oklahoma State's Chantoya Hawkins looks on during the Big 12 Conference Tournament in March. Photo by Laurie Sisk/KANSAN
Jaclyn Johnson didn't have a lot of time to savor her selection in the WNBA Draft on April 20. Shortly after becoming the 10th pick in the third round and 42nd overall by the Orlando Miracle, Johnson's new team asked for a favor.
By Brandon Stinnett sports @kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
"They don't let you enjoy the moment," she said. "They call you up and ask your shoe size."
But Johnson didn't mind.
But Johnson didn't think.
"I'm just happy to get in there," she said.
Johnson, who was in the Kansas training room during the draft, didn't know she was selected until Kansas coach Marian Washington called and told her the good news.
Johnson was the fourth big
12 Conference player selected
in the four-round, 16-team
draft. In all, five players from
the Big 12 were selected,
including Missouri forward
Amanda Lassiter (first round,
No. 15 overall, Houston);
Texas A&M forward Jayetta
Saunders (second round, No.
27 overall, Cleveland);
Missouri forward Marlena
Williams (third round, No. 35
overall, Indiana); and Iowa
State guard Megan Taylor
(fourth round, No. 55 overall,
Minnesota).
This season, Johnson led Kansas in scoring (16.1), rebounding (7.7), steals (2.1) and blocks (0.9). She was the leading scorer 17 times and she scored in double figures in 24 of 29 games. She is 11th on Kansas' career scoring list with 1,378 points.
"I just want to become a better player," she said. "I had a decent career here at Kansas but I still think it dore more."
After concluding her college career in March, Johnson is eager to get back on the court.
But she realizes playing in
the WNBA won't be easy and the competition will be tough. Such are the rigors of playing professional basketball, which has always been a childhood dream for Johnson.
"As a kid, I was like, 'I want to be the first woman in the NBA,'" she said. "It's great that they have this league now."
Orlando coach Carolyn Peck said she is glad to have Johnson on the team.
"She is a fierce competitor," Peck said. "Jaclyn has the ability to play in the front court on the press. She's got a great vertical jump, and I think her career only has an upside. She has a lot of things that she can bring to the table."
Johnson said she'll relish the opportunity to play for Orlando, which also drafted Purdue, forward Katie Douglas, Florida State guard Brooke Wyckoff and Michigan guard Anne Thorius.
"I feel really blessed to be able to keep playing the game I love, especially under a great coach like Carolyn Peck." Johnson said.
Johnson left for Orlando on Saturday for training camp as the Miracle prepares for its season opener against Houston on May 16.
No matter what happens in her professional career, though, Johnson said she'll always look back fondly on her time at Kansas.
"I remember all the times I had off the court with the girls," Johnson said. "We were just a fun group and we have lots of memories."
One aspect of the draft didn't set well with Johnson. Her teammate, Brooke Reves, wasn't selected.
"Brooke is an excellent player," Johnson said. "I think she deserves to get drafted."
Losses motivate team for'Husker matches
Continued from page 1B
led Oklahoma to a national title last year. "They've got a lot of feistiness. They are aggressive, they put the ball into play and they've got a lot of speed. They're a team that's going to do a lot of good things."
Thanks to a Texas Tech loss on Saturday, Kansas didn't drop in the Big 12 standings. They remain in third, one game ahead of the Red Raiders.
The team will take the rest of the week off before closing the regular season with three games next weekend. The No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers, who are in first place in the Big 12 standings, come to town Saturday for a doubleheader. The 'Hawks finish the regular season with a game at Missouri on Sunday.
Edited by Melissa Cooley
BOX SCORES
Yesterday's Game
Pesterville Saints
Oklahoma 120 000 3 - 6 6 2
Kansas 002 000 0 - 2 4 3
WP. Stewart, J. (28-3) LP. Pierce, K. (20-9)
2B. Musser, S. (7) SB. Braitsch, K. (9),
Ring, C.
2(13), Washington, L. (7), Musser, S. (16),
Wright, C.
Attd. 560
Saturday's Game
Oklahoma 001 000 1 - 2 6 2
Kansas 000 010 0 - 1 4 0
WP. Stewart, J. (27-3) LP-Pierce, K. (20-8)
2B. Campbell, Ka. (15) SB.-Washington, L.
(6).
Attd: 783
Team leader cherishes friendships
Attd. 783
riences from just dealing with a group and learning about fund raising and money management," she said.
Continued from page 1B
But more important than competing on and organizing the lacrosse team, Lavid has formed friendships that will last a lifetime.
"Getting to know the other girls on the team — that's just really interesting to me," she said. "Just getting to know them and their stories."
Her most vivid memories don't even involve lacrosse. She recalls with a smile times spent bonding with teammates on long road trips.
But Lacrosse is not the only thing Lavid has done at Kansas. She's devoted much of her time to volunteer work. She works at Women's Transitional Care Services shelter for victims of domestic abuse.
And she spent spring break
at a homeless shelter in Colorado, working with people as part of the University's Alternative Spring Break program. She is planning to go back to the shelter to volunteer during the summer.
"We were only there a week, but they were willing to share so much of their life with us," Lavid said. "That just impressed me."
Her desire to work with people stems from a childhood spent moving from city to city. She learned to respect different types of people and cultures.
Lavid will graduate with a degree in psychology and a minor in women's studies. After the summer, she plans to keep on volunteering. She's applied to work with Americorps.
"I'm just a real people person," she said. "I just like to get to know people."
"Idon'twant to get a real job yet," she said.
When her volunteer work is
finished, Lavid wants to go back to school and study to be a marriage counselor.
Regardless of where life takes her, she wants to continue helping others.
"I think it's my upbringing," she said. "Both of my parents did Peace Corps. I've always been a been proponent of treating others how you want to be treated."
Her teammate and roommate. senior Adrian Gallagher, said she was constantly amazed by the time Lavid gives to others.
"That's just part of her being the nicest person on Earth." Gallagher said.
Gallagher said she's not sure how Lavid manages to do well in school, play lacrosse and do volunteer work.
"She'll still go to lacrosse even if she has five books to read," Gallagher said. "She's just dedicated."
— Edited by Courtney Craigmile
Oklahoma State conquers men's, women's teams in tournament
By Shawn Linenberger sports@kansan.com Kansan associate sports editor
The men's team finish might be more permanent.
The Kansas men's and women's tennis teams finished the Big 12 Conference season with losses to Oklahoma State.
The loss eliminated Kansas (15-11) from the Big 12 Championships—No.6 Texas A&M won the title yesterday.
The fifth-seeded Kansas men's tennis team was edged out by No. 4 Oklahoma State, 4-3, in a quarterfinal match of the Big 12 Championships on Friday afternoon at the Baylor Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.
The Jayhawks must now cross their fingers in hopes of a possible berth in the NCAA Championships after Friday's damaging loss in their last season as a varsity sport at the University.
Kansas jumped out to an early lead in the match as the Jayhawks captured the doubles point. The doubles team of sophomore Pete Stroer and junior Quentin Blakeney cruised in a win against Chris Bates and Fran Krepekla, 8-2, at the No.1 doubles slot.
After Oklahoma State took the second doubles match, Kansas freshman Andrew Metzler and sophomore Eleazar Magallan put away Jiri Jezek and Anthony Zafiris, 9-7, at No. 3 doubles. Kansas jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
"The guys played with a lot of emotion and heart in doubles, and we were able to come away with the point," said Kansas coach Ross Nwachukwu.
Heading into singles play, Nwachukwu moved Blakeney into the No.1 singles slot for the first time this season on Friday. The junior made the move pay off with a convincing 6-2, 7-5, victory against the No.6 Matt Prentice. Blakeney is now 34-6 on the season and 24-2 in the spring, defeating three Top 75 players in a row.
Junior Rodrigo Echagaray also captured a win at the No. 3 singles, defeating Eru Lyndon, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. But the Jayhawks could not hold a 3-2 lead, as Oklahoma State clinched the victory with wins at the No. 4 and No. 6 singles spots.
Kansas must now wait until the NCAA announces the 64-team championship field on Thursday. Several Jayhawks, including Blakeney and Echagaray, could also qualify in the NCAA individual singles championships.
Meanwhile, the Kansas women's tennis team lost Friday afternoon to Oklahoma State, 4-0. Oklahoma State defeated Texas A&M in the semifinals before losing to the Texas Longhorns yesterday in the Big 12 title match.
Seventh-seeded Kansas (12-12) couldn't generate any early momentum against the No. 2 Cowgirls (21-3).
Despite the loss, Kansas women's coach Kilimney Waterman seemed pleased that the Kansas' season-ending loss did not come from a lack of effort.
"I am very happy with how they fought there at the end," Waterman said. "They really dug their heels in. This is a Top 20 team, and we made them work for it."
No. 16 Oklahoma State rolled in doubles play with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles slots, capturing the doubles point. From there, Oklahoma State won at No. 3, 4 and 5 singles, and clinched the victory.
— Edited by Courtney Craigmile
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