2007 Small Forward Prospects
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LSU's Seimone Augustus led small forward prospects entering the 2006 Draft, but ended up playing shooting guard in Minnesota. That left Duke's Monique Currie as the top rookie small forward, but while Currie showed promise, she was not as instantly successful as Augustus and the league's top rookies. The Seattle Storm took a small forward, UConn's
Barbara Turner, with its first-round pick and saw Turner claim a spot in the rotation as a rookie, finishing with averages of 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. The other small forward taken in the first round was Indiana's La'Tangela Atkinson, who saw sporadic action in her rookie season before being dealt to Sacramento last week.
This year's group of small forwards doesn't feature any can't-miss stars, but there are some sleepers at the position who could make noise in the WNBA. Purdue's Katie Gearlds could play either shooting guard or small forward as a professional. South Florida's Jessica Dickson and Temple's Kamesha Hairston are both strong athletes with WNBA athleticism.
Storm Outlook: The Storm added Turner a year ago and got solid production out of her as a rookie, giving them a different look from starter 
Iziane Castro Marques. If restricted free agent Castro Marques returns, the Storm is set at the position. However, a player who could also swing out to the guard positions might be a possibility.
| KATIE GEARLDS |
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WNBA.com profileThe measurements: 6-1
College: Purdue
The skinny: Indiana's Miss Basketball and MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game while in high school, Gearlds has enjoyed similar success at Purdue, averaging double-figures all four years for the Boilermakers. Gearlds has played great basketball in March, helping Purdue to the Big Ten Championship (Gearlds was Most Outstanding Player of the tournament) and the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Her performance was capped by 30 points as the Boilermakers defeated Georgia on Sunday. An excellent shooter who set a Purdue record with more than 70 triples as a senior, Gearlds may have difficulty at times with quicker athletes in the WNBA but should be a capable scorer.
| JESSICA DICKSON |
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WNBA.com profileThe measurements: 5-11
College: South Florida
The skinny: A scorer by trade, Dickson finished third in the NCAA in scoring at 22.0 ppg as a junior, trailing only WNBA All-Stars Augustus and Sophia Young. Dickson wasn't quite as prolific as a senior, averaging 19.6 ppg, but added 7.3 rebounds as well. Dickson finished her career with 2,402 points, making her the all-time leading scorer in the history of South Florida Basketball, men's or women's. She's not a three-point shooter, but that's her only weakness as a scorer, as she can hit from midrange and get to the basket.
| KAMESHA HAIRSTON |
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WNBA.com profileThe measurements: 6-0
College: Temple
The skinny: Hairston followed Temple teammate Candice Dupree, a WNBA All-Rookie Team pick with Chicago last season, as A-10 Player of the Year. A role player alongside Dupree the last two seasons, Hairston blossomed as a senior, averaging 18.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. While she can score and contribute on the glass, Hairston is at her best defensively, where she earned A-10 All-Defensive honors her final three seasons.
| SIDNEY SPENCER |
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WNBA.com profileThe measurements: 5-11
College: Tennessee
The skinny: Sidney Spencer is something of an abnormality in the women's game - a post who spends virtually all of her time on the perimeter. Listed here amongst small forwards, Spencer could also play the four in the WNBA, where she would be a difficult guard outside because of her shooting ability. Spencer has hit better than 42% from downtown each of the last two years, with threes as nearly half of her attempts. An honors student in Sports Management, Spencer was named to the SEC All-Academic Team each of her first three seasons.
| LEAH RUSH |
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WNBA.com profileThe measurements: 6-1
College: Oklahoma
The skinny: A budding star in the post as a sophomore, when she averaged 15.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, Rush had to adjust her game when Courtney Paris and twin sister Ashley arrived on campus before her junior season. Rush's averages (9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds) were relatively pedestrian as a senior, but she is comfortable in the supporting role she would likely be asked to play in the WNBA.
| OTHER SMALL FORWARD PROSPECTS |
Claire Coggins, Kansas State - Versatile wing was inconsistent when asked to be go-to player.Christina Quaye, Marquette - More power forward than small forward, but has outside shooting ability.Tyresa Smith, Delaware - Good athlete who scored major points against weak competition.