2020 Mock Draft: Big Board 4.0, coming into focus

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 05: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks tries to shoot over Lauren Cox #15 of the Baylor Bears at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 05: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks tries to shoot over Lauren Cox #15 of the Baylor Bears at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 05: Texas (24) Joyner Holmes getting a rebound while Baylor (2) Didi Richard plays defense during the Big 12 Women’s Championship on March 05, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. (Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 05: Texas (24) Joyner Holmes getting a rebound while Baylor (2) Didi Richard plays defense during the Big 12 Women’s Championship on March 05, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. (Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

8. Chicago Sky select Joyner Holmes, 6’3 F, Texas

Everyone keeps waiting for the numbers to match the talent with Joyner Holmes. Some folks aren’t even waiting.

Look, you can do a quick search on Twitter and see all the ways I’ve been preparing for a Joyner Holmes breakout since her freshman year. Injury and suspension have limited her so far, and the production isn’t yet eye-popping. But how much of that is a gap between Holmes’ perceived potential and reality, rather than a gap between her current pace and a player who can help at the next level? I tried to refocus, and saw: the growth in her free throw shooting, cutting down on turnovers, increasing her productivity on the boards and distributing, even more comfort with taking threes. There’s just too much talent there for her to fall any further than this, and with even a modest uptick in, say, her three-point shooting, she’ll rise further.