Dawn Staley would like to keep Madina Okot at South Carolina for another season, but the 6’6” center from Kenya may very well be headed to the WNBA soon. She offers the kind of size and rim protection WNBA GMs don’t like to pass on. If Okot is available, someone will draft her.
How early in the first round she could hear her name called depends on the answer to this question: Is her 3-point shot legit?
A center with her size and ability around the rim on both ends of the floor is already an enticing draft prospect. A center who can do all that AND space the floor is incredibly difficult to pass on.
Madina Okot has been shooting 3-pointers well
Okot wasn’t a 3-point shooter when she played at Mississippi State. She also didn’t shoot much from behind the arc early in her South Carolina tenure. Okot only took four threes in November and December and made one of them. Since January, she is 9-16 from behind the arc.
Okot took at least one 3-pointer in all of her last five games, including a 3-3 performance against Ole Miss that famously prompted coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin to say, “When she started looking like Steph Curry, I was like, we might as well pack it up.”
If Okot consistently takes and hits threes, it adds another layer to the Gamecocks’ already smooth offense—especially considering that Joyce Edwards isn’t much of a 3-point shooter yet. Edwards took only nine threes this season and made two of them. Okot is now 10-20.
Since this is a new development for Okot, the only question is how sustainable this is and how well it will translate to the pro level.
Dawn Staley could part ways with three first-round picks
South Carolina’s roster features five seniors. Three of them should be headed to the WNBA—unless Okot gets another season with the Gamecocks—and could be first-round picks.
Ta’Niya Latson is projected to be drafted right outside the lottery or even in the top five if a GM really wants her scoring ability on the roster. The Mystics, for example, could use a go-to perimeter scorer and shot-creator after trading Brittney Sykes to the Storm. If Latson isn’t picked in the lottery, she probably won’t make it past the Tempo, Fire, and Valkyries.
Most mock drafts project Okot to be picked late in the first round. But, if GMs believe in her 3-point shot, she could also hear her name called earlier.
No one has boosted their draft stock more this season than Raven Johnson. She wasn’t even projected to be a first-round pick before the season. Now, it would be no surprise to see her drafted that high. Johnson is averaging career highs in points, assists, 3-point attempts, field-goal attempts, 3-point percentage, and field-goal percentage. She has proven that she can score, while still maintaining her standing as one of the best floor generals in the league, averaging 5.4 assists and only 1.5 turnovers.