Lady'Backs Center Ervin Chosen in WNBA Draft by Connecticut

The Connecticut Sun selected former University of Arkansas post player Lauren Ervin in the third round of the Women's NBA draft in Tampa, Fla.

Ervin became the 37th pick of the WNBA draft in the third round in spite of missing virtually the entire Southeastern Conference season this spring with a knee injury.

"I'm more than excited," Ervin said. "Especially since I was not able to play the major part of the season and to be picked by a great team, I'm speechless."

Arkansas coach Tom Collen had said for weeks that he believed one of the WNBA teams would make a move to protect his leading scorer for next year.

"We're glad for Lauren that coaches' in the WNBA see her potential," Collen said. "She has been a great player in college, but she has got the kind of skills that allow her to continue her playing days for years to come."

Ervin averaged 16 ppg and 11 rpg as a senior for Arkansas before tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in the Southeastern Conference opener against LSU. She was the MVP of the Blue Sky Classic at Dartmouth and all-tournament at the UTSA Thanksgiving Tournament.

Conncticut Sun coach Mike Thibault made a similar move last season.

"We were trying to address specific needs with this draft," Thibault said on the WNBA Draft show. "Lauren Ervin was just a player for the future. We know she won't play this year, but she can get healthy and play in Europe. If she had been healthy, she'd have been a top 15 choice."

Ervin is in Tampa attending the pre-WNBA Draft camp and meetings.

"I met with teams on Sunday," Ervin said. "My agent and I were hoping we could find a coach that would invest in me, and they did and they proved it. I'm just proud to be part of their program."