UTC's Jasmine Joyner could be picked in WNBA draft tonight

UTC's Jasmine Joyner looks toward the basket while being guarded by Samford's Ellen Riggins during a game at McKenzie Arena in February.
UTC's Jasmine Joyner looks toward the basket while being guarded by Samford's Ellen Riggins during a game at McKenzie Arena in February.

Jasmine Joyner is approaching today just like any other Thursday.

But it may not be just that for her.

According to multiple mock drafts, the 6-foot-2 Joyner will be one of 36 players selected in tonight's WNBA draft, which would make her the first University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball player to be selected since Alex Anderson in 2008.

Since the end of this past season, the 2017 Southern Conference defensive player of the year has been working out with UTC assistant coach Brittany Johnson, who had some WNBA tryouts herself, as well as having conversations with head coach Jim Foster and assistants John McCray and Brianna Sanders.

"I've just been trying to get stronger, because I'd be heading to a bigger league," Joyner said. "I've also been working on my footwork, shooting and ball-handling because I'm more of a skinnier post player."

Joyner finished her Mocs career No. 8 on the NCAA's all-time blocks list with 437. She was third in UTC history with 936 rebounds and 14th in scoring with 1,330 points. Her ability to block shots is a translatable quality at the next level, and it could be what gets her foot in the door at the next level.

"It's always been a dream," to be selected, she said, but she has tried to remain humble and has no plans to do anything out of the ordinary tonight.

"I'll be in my room, nowhere special," she said. "If I get drafted, I'll probably start laughing. I'm not good with reactions, so when I laugh, I'm shocked, I'm happy, because it would be a dream come true."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.

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