Catch Me As I Fall

Part 2 of our Pre-NCAA's draft coverage...

Not everyone can be perfect. However, some players with one-impressive resumes and the game to match, have fallen off of the radar. They always say your last season should be your best, and if you ever hope to have a pro contract, that saying couldn't be more true. However, we've seen some top players fall down the rankings.Luckily, for some, they have time to make it up. Will it be enough time? We'll have to wait until tourney time.

One player who many thought would be a star in the WNBA, Tasha Humphrey, has fallen off a bit this year. Many saw her as the ideal pick for Atlanta at the #4, but as the year went on, people began to wonder if the Dream should go in a different direction. Luckily for them, they traded down, in a trade involving for Tar Heel guard Ivory Latta. But still, many are unsure if Tasha is truly worth the #8 pick. This would mean taking her over proven players like Laura Harper, LaToya Pringle or even Crystal Kelly. Georgia's season hasn't helped either. They've been very up and down, with more downs that ups, it seems. For Tasha, it will be key that she carry this team on her back and show that she is a warrior. Playing deep into the tournament can severely help your chances a high pick, and I'm talking to you Armintie. Tasha needs to stay in the tourney, for both her team and for herself.

Charde Houston is more confusing than ever player. There's two opinions out there. One opinion is that she's a one hit wonder who excelled in high school and will never excel at a higher level because of lack of focus and motivation. Others feel Geno is her biggest problem. We may be looking at another Swin/Laimbeer battle here. But with Charde, it's truly tough to tell what her problem says. For a year now, she has said she's grown stronger with her time with Geno, but her numbers tell a different story. Usually, a player averaging 6.5 ppg won't get a look, even a top program like UCONN. For Charde, she has to prove that she's not a one hit wonder. March is the perfect time for her to do this. Her team is bound for a championship run, as the overall #1 seed. But as much as it's up to Houston, it's also up to the GM's in the league. Who will take that chance? Who will pull something out of a hat and take her? And after someone takes her, how will she perform? Will she be the biggest bust in WNBA history? Doubt it, but you never know.

Miss. Rebound. Miss. Rebound. Miss. Rebound. Miss. Rebound. It's the story of Nicky Anosike's life. Anosike has proven that she's a big game player in the past, but at some point, you have to play well at a consistent basis, not just in an NCAA title game. Anosike has seemed to struggle a lot this season on offense and seems to get frustrated, knowing she's capable of better. Even Pat benched her against UCLA, bringing in the freshman Baugh who provided a spark in that game, eventually pulling the Vols away from the fiesty Bruins. For Nicky, it's all about mentality. She's got to go out there and focus on finishing. I think she has it in her, but I think at times, she's far too lazy. Sure, she rebounds a lot, but it's not good when you rebound your misses over and over again. Once in a while you'd like to, you know, make some baskets. I have no doubt that Anosike will have a big tournament, because March seems to be Ms. Anosike's favorite month. However, how will GMs view her? Will they look at March and be amazed or will they look at her whole season, which reeks of inconsistency? It should be interesting.

Do you want to know how athletic Morenike Atunrase is? She been a key force on defense for years at Texas A&M, especially with shot blocking, where she has led them forever, it seems. Oh, and she stands at 5'10". Last year, Atunrase looked like a prime time WNBA prospect. She has the frame to play in the pros and is very capable of both slashing and shooting. Defense has never been a problem for Morenike, but her offense has improved every year under Gary Blair. However, this year, she has suffered from injuries that have set her back. Being bumped from the starting lineup is more than a reality check for a senior. Missing the entire month of Decemeber, Atunrase has taken a while to get back into form, but looks prime for a good run in March. Luckily for her, her team seems to be playing well at the right time. After going 0-4 in their first four games, the Aggies have responded and now are the team to beat in the Big XII according to some. Keep an eye on Morenike. If she returns to her form last year, watch out.