The fans who came to The Greene Turtle outside Verizon Center for the Mystics 2008 WNBA Draft party knew there was a good chance their team could land one of two highly-desirable Maryland Terrapins.
Thus the cheer was loud and enthusiastic when they learned the Mystics selected Terps 6-foot-2 forward Crystal Langhorne with the sixth pick, even though there’d been chants for her teammate, Laura Harper, before the draft began.
Langhorne, a three-time All-American and the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, was the Mystics’ preferred choice after Houston went with Rutgers guard Matee Ajavon with the fifth pick.
“She’s been well coached, and she’s got a lot of experience, both on the collegiate level and the international level,” said Mystics head coach Tree Rollins. “She’s got a lot of basketball under her belt, and she’s pretty bright.”
Washington general manager Linda Hargrove is confident that Langhorne can be an effective starting power forward, a role she may be thrust into sooner rather than later.
“Right now DeLisha Milton-Jones is our starter there,” said Hargrove. “She’s a very experienced Olympian and high-level player. There’s some concern about whether she’s going to be playing this summer or not so we felt at that pick we needed go with someone at that pick that we felt could come in and play immediately.”
The Mystics selected 6-4 UCLA forward Lindsey Pluimer in the second round (20th overall) and 6-1 Virginia Commonwealth forward Krystal Vaughn in the third (34th overall).
“I’m not really good at scouting, I just know it’s a young, up-and-coming team and a great opportunity,” said Langhorne via telephone.
There was little surprise among the draft’s top picks, with Tennessee’s Candace Parker going first to Los Angeles and LSU’s Sylvia Fowles picked second by Chicago.
Harper, who was chosen 10th overall by Sacramento, was one of a number of players Washington considered before choosing Langhorne.
“[Harper’s] bigger, and she may have more upside,” said Hargrove. “But it may be another two or three years beforeshe consistently plays at a high level. Crystal pretty much has played consistently at a high level for a long time.”
2008 WNBA Draft
Washington Mystics selections (2007-08 stats)
» First round (sixth overall)
Crystal Langhore, 6-2, F, Maryland, 17.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, .647 FG pct.
» Second round (20th overall)
Lindsey Pluimer, 6-4, F, UCLA, 14.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg
» Third round (34th overall)
Krystal Vaughn, 6-1, F, VCU, 15.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg
2008 WNBA Draft notable picks
First round
1. Los Angeles » Candace Parker, 6-4, F, Tennessee
2. Chicago » Sylvia Fowles, 6-6, F, LSU
6. Washington » Crystal Langhorne, 6-2, F, Maryland
10. Sacramento » Laura Harper, 6-4, F, Maryland
Second round
20. Washington » Lindsey Pluimer, 6-4, F, UCLA
27. New York » Wanisha Smith, 5-11, G, Duke (Riverdale Baptist High)
Third round
34. Washington » Krystal Vaughn, 6-1, F, VCU
36. Seattle » Kimberley Beck, 5-8, G, George Washington
