Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle relayed some draft analysis of Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike from ESPN's Kara Lawson in advance of the Final Four.
For a post player like Ogwumike, Lawson said, one of the biggest challenges in adjusting to pro ball will be on defense – handling ball screens, deciding when to switch and doing it quickly, especially in late-game situations.
Because of her length and agility, Lawson said, "Chiney is uniquely qualified to be an amazing defensive post player. She rebounds at a high rate — that’s one skill that almost always translates (to the pro game). Her offensive game has improved. If she continues to improve her shooting, she’ll be an all-star."
Although it's hard to quantify Ogwumike's defensive contributions, her contributions to Stanford aren't limited to that side of the ball: she accounts for more than a third of the team's overall statistical production, including an extremely impressive 15.64% offensive rebounding rate.
Unfortunately, Ogwumike apparently didn't do enough to win the AP's Player of the Year award - she came in a somewhat distant second to UConn's Breanna Stewart - there's no question about her being the top pick in this year's WNBA draft.
For more on Stanford's chances in the Final Four, check out our Final Four storystream. For more on the top WNBA prospects in the tournament, check out our 2014 WNBA Draft prospect watch storystream.