Spring Break
Lady Bulldog drafted 11th by Detroit
Humphrey to reunite with former Dogs
KEVIN COPP
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Sports
Former Lady Bulldog Tasha Humphrey was selected by the Detroit Shock with the 11th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft on Wednesday.
Humphrey became the eighth Georgia player taken in the first round of the last eight WNBA drafts, but had to wait a little longer than expected to hear her name called in Tampa.
"It makes you anxious sitting there, and the nerves build on you," Humphrey said. "I was really happy though for all my fellow college players and now fellow draftees."
Georgia head coach Andy Landers, who now has seen 19 of his former players make it to the WNBA, had high praise for Humphrey's professional potential.
"I'm happy for [Humphrey], and I'm sure she'll be a great addition to the many other Georgia players already in the WNBA," Landers said in a news release. "I'm confident [Humphrey] has a very promising future professionally in the WNBA and overseas."
Though Humphrey missed out on playing in her home state for the expansion Atlanta Dream, who took James Madison's Tamera Young with the eighth pick, Detroit has become something of a gathering place for former Lady Bulldogs.
Humphrey will join Kara Braxton, who last played for Georgia in 2004, and Deanna Nolan, who graduated in 2001, on the Shock roster.
The Lady Bulldog duo should help Humphrey move from playing her entire life in the state of Georgia to starting a career in Michigan.
"I have a pretty outgoing personality, so meeting new people won't be too much of a challenge," Humphrey said. "Having [Braxton] and [Nolan] there will definitely help ease the transition."
Another benefit of being drafted late in the first round is Humphrey gets to be a part of a contender right away.
Under former Detroit Piston Bill Laimbeer, the Detroit Shock captured the WNBA Championship in 2003 and 2006, and went to the finals last season.
"I'm excited," Humphrey said. "They've had a lot of great teams in Detroit, and [Laimbeer] has been on a lot of great teams, so he'll have a lot to teach me about taking my game to the next level."
For Humphrey, the learning curve will be steep.
She will spend April 17-19 in Detroit at orientation. Training camp begins April 20, and the first Shock preseason game is May 12.
Humphrey is still on track to graduate in the spring and will submit work online as she tries to balance the final four weeks of the semester with trips to and from Detroit
Humphrey became the eighth Georgia player taken in the first round of the last eight WNBA drafts, but had to wait a little longer than expected to hear her name called in Tampa.
"It makes you anxious sitting there, and the nerves build on you," Humphrey said. "I was really happy though for all my fellow college players and now fellow draftees."
Georgia head coach Andy Landers, who now has seen 19 of his former players make it to the WNBA, had high praise for Humphrey's professional potential.
"I'm happy for [Humphrey], and I'm sure she'll be a great addition to the many other Georgia players already in the WNBA," Landers said in a news release. "I'm confident [Humphrey] has a very promising future professionally in the WNBA and overseas."
Though Humphrey missed out on playing in her home state for the expansion Atlanta Dream, who took James Madison's Tamera Young with the eighth pick, Detroit has become something of a gathering place for former Lady Bulldogs.
Humphrey will join Kara Braxton, who last played for Georgia in 2004, and Deanna Nolan, who graduated in 2001, on the Shock roster.
The Lady Bulldog duo should help Humphrey move from playing her entire life in the state of Georgia to starting a career in Michigan.
"I have a pretty outgoing personality, so meeting new people won't be too much of a challenge," Humphrey said. "Having [Braxton] and [Nolan] there will definitely help ease the transition."
Another benefit of being drafted late in the first round is Humphrey gets to be a part of a contender right away.
Under former Detroit Piston Bill Laimbeer, the Detroit Shock captured the WNBA Championship in 2003 and 2006, and went to the finals last season.
"I'm excited," Humphrey said. "They've had a lot of great teams in Detroit, and [Laimbeer] has been on a lot of great teams, so he'll have a lot to teach me about taking my game to the next level."
For Humphrey, the learning curve will be steep.
She will spend April 17-19 in Detroit at orientation. Training camp begins April 20, and the first Shock preseason game is May 12.
Humphrey is still on track to graduate in the spring and will submit work online as she tries to balance the final four weeks of the semester with trips to and from Detroit
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