AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Detroit Shock Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel Bill Laimbeer announced today that the franchise acquired 5-11 guard/forward Chandi Jones, who was selected 8th overall by Phoenix. Detroit used its own first round picks to select 6-5 forward/center Iciss Tillis from Duke (11th overall) and 5-10 forward Shereka Wright from Purdue (13th overall). The Shock added guard Erika Valek from Purdue in the second round (23rd overall) and Jennifer Smith from Michigan in the third round (32nd overall). Guard Sheila Lambert, Wright and Valek were sent to Phoenix in exchange for Jones as part of a prearranged draft day trade.

“We believe Chandi Jones was the best scorer available and has great range, especially for her size,” said Laimbeer, 2003 WNBA Coach of the Year. “Her size and athletic ability are what we coveted.”

“Iciss Tillis was the most skilled and athletic frontcourt player available. Her ability to play multiple positions has always been attractive to us and fits with our ultimate stated goal. In addition, we are pleased with her ability to venture out beyond the 3-point line.”

“We are always looking to get bigger and Jennifer Smith has good rebounding ability. This along with her solid mid-range scoring ability should give her a chance.”

SHOCK AQUIRE:

Chandi Jones
Jones, a 5-11 guard/forward from Houston, adds tremendous athleticism and uncanny scoring ability to the Shock backcourt. She was a 2004 Kodak All-American and a three-time Conference USA Player of the Year (2004, 2003 and 2002). She was also named to the All-Conference USA First-Team all four years of her career. In her senior season, Jones averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 35.6 minutes. She averaged 27.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in 36.4 minutes as a junior. Jones finished with career averages of 23.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.89 steals and 35.6 minutes in 114 games and is Houston’s all-time leading scorer with 2,692 points, breaking Tamika Whitmore’s record of 2,488 on February 15 in a win at East Carolina. She ranks third overall behind former Cougars Elvin Hayes, who scored 2,884 points in 93 games from 1965-68, and Otis Birdsong, who tallied 2,832 total points for Houston from 1973-77. Jones reached double figures in points in an NCAA-record 112 consecutive games - every game of her collegiate career at Houston. The previous record for consecutive double-digit scoring games was 92, set by former NCAA Player of the Year Jackie Stiles.

Iciss Tillis
Tillis, a 6-5 forward/center from Duke, was named AP All-America honorable mention and All-ACC First Team in 2004, 2003 and 2002, becoming just the eighth player in ACC history to be named three times. Tillis was also named ACC Tournament MVP in 2004 and 2003, becoming only the fourth player to win the honor in consecutive seasons. In her senior season, she averaged 12.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.34 blocks and 28.0 minutes while leading her Duke Blue Devils (30-4) to the Elite Eight of the 2004 NCAA Tournament before losing to Minnesota, 82-75. Tillis was a 2003-04 Naismith Finalist for National Player of the Year. She averaged 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, 2.16 steals and 30.5 minutes in 37 games as a junior. Tillis was a member of the 2003 USA Pan American Games Team that captured a silver medal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and was named to the All-ACC Defensive Team in 2002. Tillis recorded 25 career double-doubles at Duke and her 88 career double-figure scoring games is fifth on the school’s all-time list. Former Indiana Fever Head Coach and current ESPN analyst Nell Fortner has compared Tillis to Los Angeles Sparks star center Lisa Leslie. ESPN/ABC analyst Robin Roberts has called Tillis “The x-factor” because of her “great range and strength in the post.”

Jennifer Smith
Smith, a 6-3 center from Michigan, is another hometown hero added to the Shock roster. Smith, who hails from Lansing, Michigan, improved her scoring average from 9.4 points her freshman year to 20.7 points her senior year. She also averaged 7.1 rebounds while shooting 47.8% (213-446 FG) from the floor and 35.5% (22-62 3pt. FG) from behind the arc in 2004. Smith, an All-Big Ten First Team (media) and All-Big Ten Second Team (coaches) honoree her senior season, will be competing for a spot on the Shock’s 2004 roster when training camp starts April 26.

SHOCK TRADE:

Sheila Lambert
Lambert, a 5-7 guard, averaged 3.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 6.9 minutes in 27 games, one as a starter, last year (her only season with the Shock). She was placed on the injured list prior to her rookie season of 2002 (with Charlotte) after suffering a broken leg in the WBCA All-Star Game at the 2002 Final Four in San Antonio. She was activated July 19 of 2002 but only played in three of the team’s final 12 regular season games.

Shereka Wright
Wright, a 5-10 forward from Purdue, earned AP All-America Second Team honors as well as the Big Ten Tournament MVP award in 2004 with averages of 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 30.2 minutes in 33 games. She was named to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Erika Valek
Valek, a 5-6 guard from Purdue, adds quickness and efficiency to the Shock backcourt. She earned All-Big Ten Second-Team (coaches) and All-Big Ten honorable mention (media) honors in 2004 along with the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best NCAA Division I basketball player 5-8 and under. Valek averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.97 steals and 30.6 minutes as a senior. She was named to the All-Big Ten First Team (coaches) and All-Big Ten Second Team (media) as a junior with averages of 14.0 points, 4.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 2.60 steals and 33.7 minutes in 35 games.