Zellous drafted by Detroit Shock

Shavonte Zellous traded in her Adidas sneakers and Pitt warm-ups for heels, pearls, makeup and… Shavonte Zellous traded in her Adidas sneakers and Pitt warm-ups for heels, pearls, makeup and a WNBA draft pick.

‘With the 11th pick in the first round of the WNBA Draft, the Detroit Shock selects Shavonte Zellous from Pittsburgh,’ announced WNBA President Donna Orender.

Zellous responded to the selection with smiles and hugs at the NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, N.J., where the Draft was held.

Accompanied by Pitt coach Agnus Berenato and her mother, Zellous walked happily to the stage to receive a Shock jersey and took a picture with Orender.

‘When her name was called, it was one of the most exciting things,’ said Berenato. ‘It’s a good thing to know that her hard work and sacrifice paid off. Also, it’s another first for our program.’

That ‘first’ was Zellous becoming the first Panther ever selected in the WNBA Draft, let alone in the first round. The WNBA first began in 1997 as an eight-team league before expanding to an all-time high of 16 teams in 2002. The league now contains 13 teams.

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 22.6 points per game in her senior season, rating second in the Big East behind Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry ‘- the first pick in Thursday’s draft. Zellous averaged 16.9 points per game in her four-year career at Pitt.

Zellous follows former teammate Marcedes Walker as the only former Panthers to play in the WNBA. Walker, who played with Zellous at Pitt from 2005-08, made the now-defunct Houston Comets’ opening-day roster as an undrafted free agent last season. But Walker played only two games before being released.

Walker finished 2008 playing for Botasspor Adana in Turkey.

While Berenato knew Zellous would be drafted, the anticipation kept her anxiety levels high.

‘Before they called her name, I was a nervous wreck,’ said Berenato. ‘I kept asking Shavonte if she was OK. When they called her name, all I said was, ‘Congrats, and I love you.”

A January 2008 USA Today report projected that WNBA rookies selected between the ninth and 14th picks in the Draft should expect to receive $36,353 in their first years. Rookie contracts in the league last for three years, while teams retain the option to add a fourth year. The projected salaries for the second and third seasons are $37,080 and $40,788, respectively.

Zellous was one of four Big East players drafted in the first round. McCoughtry went first to the Atlanta Dream, Connecticut guard Renee Montgomery was selected fourth by the Minnesota Lynx and Rutgers center Kia Vaughn was the eighth pick for the New York Liberty.

Zellous, however, may have the most to be excited about because she joins the defending WNBA champions.

‘Joining the world champions is unbelievable for Shavonte,’ said Berenato. ‘I can’t tell you how elated I am.’

In addition to helping Detroit win another championship, Zellous will be doing it alongside her idol Deanna Nolan, who averaged 15.8 points per game for the Shock in 2008.

After being selected, Zellous told reporters she was overwhelmed at the thought of playing alongside her favorite player.’

Berenato said that Detroit will receive a great individual in Zellous.

‘Mostly, I think I’ll miss her genuine smile and caring personality,’ said Berenato. ‘She is really genuine, and Detroit is gaining a great person and a versatile player who will definitely complement the team.’

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