Las Vegas Review-Journal

Top prospects

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A’ja Wilson, F, South Carolina: The dynamic forward averaged 22.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks as a senior for the Gamecocks and is widely regarded as the top prospect. She can score inside, attack from the perimeter and anchor a defense with her length and athleticis­m.

Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State: An explosive scorer, Mitchell averaged 24.3 points and shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range.

She averaged 24.5 points in her four year career and finished as the second-leading scorer in Division I history, trailing Aces second-year guard Kelsey Plum.

Diamond Deshields, G, Cukurova (Turkey): The smooth scorer played at North Carolina and Tennessee but bolted to play profession­ally overseas. Deshields averaged 17.4 points in 2016-17, her final season with the Lady Vols.

Azura Stevens, F, Connecticu­t: At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Stevens can protect the rim on defense and patrol the paint on offense. She bypassed her senior season to declare for this year’s draft after averaging 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in 20.9 minutes for the Huskies.

Gabby Williams, G/F, Connecticu­t: The Sparks native starred at Reed High School and emerged as the best defensive player in the country with the Huskies. Williams reportedly has a 36-inch vertical leap and almost qualified for the 2012 Olympics as a high jumper. She averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 2017-18.

Sam Gordon which it may be an omen,” he said. “We haven’t told anybody that ‘Yes, you are the pick.’ Do we have it in our mind who we’re going to pick? Probably so.”

Staley didn’t stop short of anything, though. She proudly espoused where she expects Wilson to go Thursday. Back to Las Vegas. As an adult, a profession­al and the No. 1 pick.

“I’ve seen her grow and mature into an All-american, to the top player in the country,” Staley said. “I think Vegas would be crazy to not take her at No. 1.”

Aces sign guard

The Aces said Wednesday they have signed free-agent guard Jacki Gemelos.

Gemelos, 29, was a thirdround pick of the Minnesota Lynx in 2012 and last played in the league for the Chicago Sky in 2015, appearing in 17 games.

Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@ reviewjour­nal.com. Follow @ Bysamgordo­n on Twitter.

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