Carolyn Ganes is seeking a basketball team.
Have a basketball, hoop and a team? She will travel.
Ganes was one of three former Oregon women’s basketball players left without a team after Wednesday’s WNBA Draft held in Cleveland, Ohio.
The senior forward is staying in Eugene spring term to finish classes and will walk in spring graduation, provided her obligations with the Canadian National Team don’t interfere.
She plans to play with Canada this summer and find a professional team overseas next fall, listing France as her first preference, but is open to what’s available.
“I’m not too picky (and) I’m not too worried about a huge culture shock,” Ganes said. “I’m really open to different things.”
Ganes says she believes her long-range shooting ability as a 6-foot-3-inch post will be appealing to European teams. Ganes tied guard Taylor Lilley for the team-high in three-pointers with 39.
Forward Eleanor Haring says she’ll consider her opportunities overseas, but is currently focusing on school and graduation in June. The humble Haring, who led Oregon in scoring last season, says she doesn’t foresee the WNBA in her future.
“It’s probably going to be more likely Europe or playing back home in Australia,” said Haring, who’s a native of Mullaloo, Australia and likes the idea of playing in front of family again.
The college to pro transition might require Haring to switch from the four position or power forward, to the three position or small forward. Haring relied on an effective fall-away jumper in college and the small forward position would have her shooting the ball more along the perimeter.
“I’ve played that position before, so I know that I can do it,” Haring said. “But yeah, I’ll have to brush up on my wing skills again, but that wouldn’t be a problem.”
The 10 a.m. WNBA Draft passed pick by pick. When the draft ended at around 12:30 p.m., none of the three former Oregon players had been selected. The trio includes Ganes, Haring and Jessie Shetters.
Five players represented the Pacific-10 Conference in the WNBA Draft. UCLA’s Noelle Quinn, a prolific scorer from the guard position went to the Minnesota Lynx with the fourth pick in the first round.
USC’s Eshaya Murphy was the next Pac-10 pick, selected No. 15 in the second round, also to the Lynx.
Stanford center Brooke Smith went No. 23 to the Lynx. The Houston Comets selected her college teammate, Kristen Newlin, with pick No. 34 in the third round. Arizona State forward Emily Westerberg slid into the final three picks of the draft, going No. 37 to the Phoenix Mercury.
Wherever Ganes lands, the Pac-10 competition is going to ease her transition, she says.
“The Pac-10 has a lot of really quick, versatile, agile teams,” Ganes said. “I think that’s similar to what I’ll end up seeing and the (Pac-10’s) level of play is just so high that I think that will help prepare you for the next level.”
Two weeks ago, Oregon’s season was still going in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Now, seniors have had time off with spring break and a new school term to let reality sink in and know their Oregon careers are over.
“I feel like I’m just on spring break right now, like it hasn’t really hit me that that’s it with Oregon,” Haring said.
Oregon recruit stands out
Incoming point guard Nia Jackson is already making an impact in the state of Oregon. The Seattle product ran the offense for the Washington girls prep all-star team as she guided it to a 104-60 win Saturday in the Les Schwab Northwest Shootout at the Chiles Center in Portland.
Jackson lit up Oregon’s prep all-stars with 17 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
“I’ve got to be nice,” Jackson told the Seattle Times. “I thought we could beat them, but I didn’t think we’d do it by that much.”
Jackson, who attended Chief Sealth High, comes to Eugene this fall.
Tualatin High forward Sam Child, who committed to San Diego, led the Oregon squad with 12 points.
Lilley on fire
Oregon guard Taylor Lilley already led the Pac-10 in three-point accuracy, and now she owns the Ducks’ single-season mark after shooting nearly 51 percent from deep.
Lilley made 39 of 77 from three-point territory. The .506 percentage crushes Michelle Eble’s 1988-89 record of .471 (41-of-87).
Lilley also led the team in overall field goal percentage at .479.
The Newhall, Calif. native, who missed seven games with a variety of injuries including a broken hand and a stress fracture in her right leg, was fourth on the team in scoring at 8.3 points per-game.
More coverage
Look for more coverage next week of the women’s basketball team, including a season wrap-up.
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